Gerald Smith has been promoted to store director of Community Builders of Kansas City-owned KC Sun Fresh on Linwood, located at 3110 Wabash Ave. Smith has been with the store since it opened in 2018 as part of the Linwood Shopping Center redevelopment funded by The City of Kansas City, Missouri.
“I started working here when I was a sophomore in high school,” said Smith. “I was hired as a sacker, then consistently progressed to cashier, stocking, receiving, customer service and pricing, so I’ve worked just about every role at this store.”
In late 2021, when CBKC became the owner of the store, Smith began training as assistant store director and this spring was promoted to store director. In that role, he manages a staff of 80 as well as all operations of the store.
“Now that I’m director, I’m gaining a deeper understanding of the bakery, deli and meat departments,” he said. “There’s a lot to learn in those areas and I want to be able to fill in if needed.”
When asked how store operations are going, he was positive, saying that sales have been increasing and this summer hit record levels.
As for future plans, Smith says he wants to add new services to the store, like a taco bar and ice cream or smoothie shop. While those plans are in the works, he is enjoying the day-to-day work.
“The best part about my job is being able to help members of the community,” he said. “Sun Fresh is an important part of the East Side and I take seriously my role in providing healthy, affordable food for residents.”
When KC Sun Fresh on Linwood opened in 2018, it alleviated a food desert and served as a vital piece of the ongoing revitalization along the corridor. CBKC took over ownership in December 2021 when the previous owners decided to sell. Along with the Linwood store, CBKC also owns KC Sun Fresh on Blue Parkway, located at 4209 E 50th Terr., which it took over in 2020 when that operator retired.
Although CBKC operates two of the largest grocery stores east of Troost, owning and operating full-service supermarkets was never part of its original business plan.
“This was not part of our plan,” Emmet Pierson, Jr., president and CEO of CBKC, said. “But what is in our plan, is fulfilling unmet needs for goods and services on the East Side. We stepped up and took over these stores so members of our community could feed their families nutritious food.”