By Joyce Smith
Cars whizzing by on Wornall Road might not even see the sidewalk sandwich board advertising this new to-go operation.
That would be a mistake.
Safi Fresh is just what the area needs – a quick-serve, healthier choice for all those commuters amid a stretch of fast food chains.
Owner and chef LaRonda LaNear points to her tagline in neon along one wall: “eat in color.”
“Eating healthy doesn’t have to be bland,” she said.
“I’ve always been very passionate about cooking, as a kid I noticed that food brought family together. There was always laughter,” she said. “I experimented but tried not to get caught by my mother wasting food. And my dad is a good cook as well, my aunts.”
As she grew older, she put on events for friends and family. To this day they gather at her house.
Nearly a decade ago, at age 28, she started a food catering operation called We Got It Covered Food Services LLC. She does meal prep for weight loss clients and bodybuilders, as well as catering private and corporate events.
During COVID’s shelter-in-place orders, she pivoted, selling individual or family meals for pickup or delivery. She also operated in a downtown ghost kitchen that later closed, and opened Safi Fresh in the new Kansas City International Airport at 1 Kansas City Blvd., Atrium B, in early 2023.
In April, she opened Safi Fresh as a to-go only, cashless operation at 8133 Wornall Rd.
, at the south end of the burgundy-colored Emilie’s French Teas building. Emilie’s owns the building, and most of Safi Fresh’s customers park on 81st Street.
“I wanted to be in a more family-oriented area where you can feel part of the community,” she said. “Two local residents came in the other day and we talked for 30, 45 minutes.”
Her menu includes smoothies, sweet potato breakfast bowls (mashed sweet potatoes topped with brown sugar, granola, cranberries and sweet nut clusters), and the Croi’ Sandwich (bacon, eggs, smoked Gouda, and crisp shallots between a buttery croissant) with a side of breakfast potatoes.
For lunch she has wraps (chicken avocado, Buffalo chicken, tuna pesto, Southwest veggie, or grilled salmon); four different salads (including the Western Showdown Salad with romaine lettuce, grilled chicken, black beans, corn, avocado, bacon, cherry tomatoes, and avocado lime ranch dressing); and four different bowls (including the Eat in Color Veggie Bowl with chickpeas, black beans, corn, avocado, cherry tomatoes, red onions, white rice, and tri-colored peppers).
Safi Fresh offers a choice of eight dressings/sauces.
The Get’em to the Greek Bowl is one of the most popular orders. It comes with grilled chicken, red onions, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, feta cheese, olives, brown or white rice, and tzatziki sauce for $13. Other top orders include the watermelon lemonade, and the blueberry pomegranate smoothie.
This week’s lunch special is a Buffalo chicken wrap with chips and lemonade for $13.
LaNear said Safi is Swahili word meaning “pure” or “fresh.” Hours are currently 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.
Coming up, Safi Fresh will be part of Kansas City’s Open Doors! program, a $1.6 million initiative to activate vacant downtown storefronts with local businesses and artists ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026.
The program offers grants of up to $10,000 to turn empty spaces into pop-up shops.
In June, LaNear will open Safi Fresh in the former Soiree restaurant space, at 1512 E. 18th St., and she plans to stay for at least six months. She will share the space with Erica Harris, owner of Cupcakin bakery cafe, who plans to do a pop-up cocktail lounge called Haus 1512. Haus 1512 will serve loaded hot dogs and fries, and a variety of wings, as well as have live music and TVs for watching games.
The Open Doors! businesses will get assistance in legal, marketing, finance, access to capital and business development, and be in high-traffic locations during the World Cup, which Visit KC (the hospitality sales and marketing organization for Kansas City) estimates could bring as many as 650,000 visitors to the metro over the duration.
The Open Doors! pop-ups also will be featured in a small business guide developed in partnership with Airbnb.