Julia Williams

Editor-in-Chief

El Mercado Fresco — a franchise of nine Hispanic and ethnic grocery stores across the Kansas City Missouri and Kansas metropolitan area — is owned and operated by Eddie Musallet and Sam Zaben and their families.

The business started in 2016 at its 5117 Independence Ave., location with a mission of targeting and providing goods to Historic Northeast Kansas City’s diversely populated community. 

Musallet and Zaben went on to expand their business — opening second and third El Mercado Fresco locations outside of Northeast boundaries: one in Grandview and one in Kansas City, Kan. 

In 2020, Snyder’s Supermarket — a Northeast grocery store with a nearly 50 year history — closed its doors at 2620 Independence Ave., which led this family to acquire the building and open another Avenue location in 2021. 

“[The Northeast] has a highly populated Hispanic population; we saw a demand for another Hispanic market,” Store Manager, Junior Zaben shared in an interview, Monday. 

However, Junior said that while the smaller El Mercado Fresco stores along the Avenue were doing well, the family wanted a larger structure, which included sufficient parking spaces for customers. When the CVS Pharmacy at 5901 Independence Ave., went out of business in 2023, Musallet and Zaben purchased the space to open their third Northeast location. 

While Junior shared that each El Mercado Fresco store is unique, many will carry similar items ranging anywhere from Hispanic, Central American, South American and Asian goods. 

Newer Fresh Market stores — including the location at 5901 Independence Ave. — have additionally incorporated a kitchen with Hispanic and Asian dishes and a Fruitopia Paleteria and Ice Cream Shop. 

When asked about El Mercado Fresco’s most popular items, Junior shared that the whole store will make the equation, but its produce and meat departments remain a strong suit. 

In terms of providers, Junior said the family has a plethora of suppliers and providers, which come from all over the world for items sold within its stores including — but not limited to — Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico and China, among others. 

“We’re very grateful to be a part of the community and for all the support,” Junior shared in an interview, Monday. “We’re so grateful to be where we are.” 

In addition to providing goods for the community, he shared that their family also loves to give back, which includes offering donations to Special Olympics — a national nonprofit organization focused on providing athletic training to children and adults with disabilities — Guadalupe Centers and Harvesters, among others. 

For more information on El Mercado Fresco including locations and hours of operation, visit: https://www.elmercadofresco.com/.