Residents of South Kansas City, Missouri, are finally getting their wish. After a nearly two-year wait, a new grocery store is preparing to open at 11212 Holmes Road in the Red Bridge shopping center.
Red Bridge Farm Fresh Market is taking over the space that formerly housed Sun Fresh, which closed in early 2023 after serving the community since the 1990s and left the neighborhood without a grocery store.
Brandon Buckley, a partner at Lane4 Property Group, which has owned the Red Bridge shopping center since 2015, called grocery stores the “heartbeat of a community” and said everyone in the area is excited for the market to open this fall.
“When the previous grocery store closed, I received about 250-300 emails from neighbors who were very concerned about what would happen next. Red Bridge Shopping Center was originally built in the ’60s and has long been the heart of the neighborhood, so there has been a lot of community involvement throughout the redevelopment process.”
After buying the center, Buckley polled the neighborhood to see what residents wanted. Responses included breakfast cafe, coffee shop, family-style restaurant, hardware store, ice cream shop, locally owned concepts and a new grocery store.
“We are proud to say that we have checked all those boxes. We also brought a public library into the tenant mix and Wonderscope Children’s Museum, which is a state-of-the-art attraction for families in the Kansas City metro and beyond.” 
Red Bridge Farm Fresh Market’s opening date has shifted a few times, but if the current pace continues, it is on track to open in early November. Buckley noted that the space has been undergoing a thorough interior and exterior renovation. Between landlord and tenant improvements, about $6.5 million has been invested so far.
The floor-to-ceiling transformation includes a significant redesign of the façade, as well as improvements to the store’s layout. The interior is being outfitted with new finishes, refrigeration systems, lighting and polished concrete floors, creating a contemporary, inviting shopping experience.
“We want it to feel like a completely new store and become a place the neighborhood is proud to shop,” Buckley said.
New name, approach
The market will be operated by Moe Muslet and his cousin, Eddie Musallet. Both men are retail veterans. Muslet has more than 25 years experience running stores in the Kansas City area and Florida. Musallet has nearly 30 years in retail, recently opening El Fresco Mercado and World Fresh Market in the greater Kansas City area.
Muslet will oversee the day-to-day operations and management of Red Bridge Farm Fresh Market, while Musallet is currently focused on the construction and setup of the store.
“My journey in retail has allowed me to understand the nuances of different markets, but it’s in the grocery business where I’ve truly found my passion over the past five years,” Muslet said. “Eddie has been a significant mentor throughout my career, having opened his first grocery store in 2013. Together, we’ve combined our expertise to bring fresh, quality offerings to the communities we serve.”
Red Bridge Farm Fresh Market is a new format for the pair. According to Muslet, the inspiration came from listening to its future customers.
“The format directly responds to the needs and desires expressed by the Red Bridge neighborhood,” he said. “The community has been vocal about wanting access to fresh produce, high-quality meat and a wide range of groceries at affordable prices.
“Red Bridge is a vibrant community that has been underserved in terms of grocery options, and this new store format is designed to meet those specific needs. We’re excited to bring this vision to life and provide a store that truly serves the people of Red Bridge.”
The store totals about 35,000 square feet, which Muslet said is the ideal size for the cousins’ concept.
“It allows us to offer a diverse range of products, from fresh produce to specialty items, without feeling overwhelming,” he said. “The layout is designed to be spacious and easy to navigate, providing a warm, community-focused atmosphere.
“We’re confident that this size will enable us to deliver a shopping experience that meets the needs of our customers and reflects the quality and care we put into our offerings.”
According to Muslet, Red Bridge Farm Fresh Market will stand out from other grocers in the area.
“We have a dedicated team and management that prioritizes listening to our customers and understanding their needs,” he said. “This approach allows us to adapt quickly and effectively, ensuring we meet their expectations.
“Second, our commitment to genuinely serving our communities by providing exactly what they want and ask for has fostered strong, loyal relationships. By focusing on these key elements – responsive customer service and community-centered offerings – we’ve been able to not just survive but thrive in a competitive market.”
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What’s inside
The standout departments at Red Bridge Farm Fresh Market will be meat, produce and bakery, each of which is focused on providing value and quality.
“Our store will feature unique cuts and specialty meats not found at other retail locations,” Muslet said. “Our skilled butchers will be on hand to provide special cuts on the spot.”
The produce department is committed to offering a wide selection of items at affordable prices, ensuring customers have access to quality fruits and vegetables.
The bakery department will feature in-house baking with exclusive recipes and skilled decorators who can customize cakes for any occasion.
“These departments are central to our focus, as we aim to offer the highest quality and most diverse options in each category, making Farm Fresh Market a premier destination for all grocery needs,” Muslet said.
In addition to customer service that will make every shopper feel like family, Farm Fresh Market also will feature distinctive offerings.
“We’ll have a fresh kitchen with ready-to-eat meals, salad bar, pizza shop and our Frutopia concept, offering delicious ice creams, fruit bowls, smoothies and Elote (Mexican corn in a cup),” he said. “With these unique offerings, we’re confident that our community will choose us for an unparalleled shopping experience.”
Customer and community driven
Understanding that customers seek convenience, quality and a comprehensive shopping experience drives the partners to carefully curate their offerings.
“We prioritize stocking fresh, high-quality meats, produce and other essential items that enable customers to prepare home-cooked meals,” Muslet said. “Additionally, our focus on convenience leads us to offer ready-made options, including freshly baked pizzas, pies and quick lunch solutions from our deli. By aligning our business practices with these customer priorities, we aim to provide a shopping experience that is both satisfying and effective.”
The owners are committed to sourcing and supporting sustainable practices. Muslet noted there will be an emphasis on local throughout the store.
“Local products play a crucial role in our offerings at Farm Fresh Market. We are committed to working with local suppliers and farmers to bring in fresh, high-quality products,” he said.
“This not only supports our community but also ensures that our customers have access to the best local produce and goods. By prioritizing local partnerships, we aim to contribute to the local economy and provide our customers with products that reflect the unique flavors and quality of our region.”
While the next closest grocery store may be miles away, Muslet said his goal is to become known for providing better selections and prices than big-box competitors.
“We are working diligently to position Farm Fresh Market as a full-service grocery store, enhancing the shopping experience well beyond what was offered by the previous store, which primarily served as a fill-in option,” he said. “Our goal is to offer a comprehensive selection of fresh, high-quality products, from meats and produce to bakery items and prepared meals.
“We believe these efforts will establish Farm Fresh Market as the preferred destination for full grocery shopping in the Red Bridge community.”
Hello, I’m a resident of the Red Bridge area and live 5 mins away. I’m not sure I can believe this new timeline you’ve reported here. We were told and it was widely publicized that the opening would be in early summer 2024, then summer 2024 and there’s literally NO contstruction going on for months over there. I’ve almost gotten to the point where I want to write in to all the local stations here in KC that wrote those articles back in Jan. and ask them for a follow up to the story.
Have you been to KC to investigate this? There’s no way that store is going to open in November and it’s really, really frustrating for all of us in the neighborhood.
Could you dig deeper? Thank you,