South Asian grocery story KC India Mart is looking to relocate to a bigger space in Overland Park.
The Overland Park Planning Commission on Monday approved a rezoning request that would allow the grocery store to construct a new 13,000-square-foot building at the southwest corner of 135th and Hemlock streets.
KC India Mart is looking to expand
- The grocery store is located at 8542 W. 133rd St., less than half a mile away from its new proposed site.
- “They’re in an existing strip mall right now, and it’s bursting at the seams, and they would like to build their own stand-alone business,” said Judd Claussen, professional engineer with Phelps Engineering, who represented KC India Mart at Monday’s meeting.
- Although the proposed lot is zoned by the city as a planned business park, Claussen argued a grocery store made sense for the site, as several other commercial businesses can be found in the surrounding area, including restaurants like Stroud’s and Tuk Tuk Thai.
The rezoning received unanimous approval
- In favor of the grocery store idea, Commissioner Dave Hill noted the market would fit well with a previous plan approved by the city in 2003 for that site.
- “The fact that it is filling out a pad site that is envisioned for this type of use and it has substantial buffer from other areas… I think this would be a welcome use of this site,” Hill said.
- The rezoning request will now have to come before the Overland Park City Council in the following months to receive final approval.
The store sells groceries and fresh cuisine
- KC India Mart sells a range of products marketed to a South Asian clientele, including flour, rice, teas, spices, produce sweets and other snack items.
- The grocery store has also partnered with Desi Bites, a self-service Indian fast food cafe, to sell traditional Indian cuisine in the store.
- A few featured dishes on Desi Bites’ menu include a variety of biryanis, dosas and curries.
