McGonigle’s Meat Market is demolished

By Kathy Feist

Today the 75-year-old McGonigle’s Meat Market building so well known to Kansas Citians and especially to the Ward Parkway neighborhood has been demolished.

Sold to Iowa-based Fareway Meat Market in 2000, the business has been moved just yards south of the original store to a 10,500 sq. ft. newly constructed building at 1307 W 97th St.

Replacing McGonigle’s old location will be a 10,000 sq. ft multi-tenant building. No new tenants have been announced

“We have no new tenants yet,” said Elias Johnson, vice president of corporate communication outreach for Fareway. “We are looking for future tenants that can elevate the community and complement the grocery store next door.”

Construction of the tenant building was originally planned for 2027. But Johnson says construction will start immediately.

“The renderings have already been approved. We plan to develop it into a very workable, sought after space for future tenants,” he says, adding it is one of the reasons the corporation decided to stay at the location. “We want to add value to the area.”

Johnson says Fareway is eyeing other locations around the Kansas City metropolitan area but did not share specifics. “We are looking to be an anchor for this generation of growth,” he said, hinting that they aim for customers who are focused on high quality products.

The Iowa-based Fareway currently operates 143 stores in a seven-state region, including several in the metro. It is a family-owned business with more than 13,000 total employees.

McGonigle’s grocery store was founded on the corner in 1951. It was still in the McGonigle family and the owner planned to redevelop the site before selling it to Fareway in 2020.