Julia Williams

Editor-in-Chief

Oredi Jay — owner of Jay’s Grocery and Restaurant — opened his store at 2605 Independence Ave., in December, 2021 with a mission to provide the community with African food.

“I saw a problem and came to solve it,” Jay shared in an interview. 

As a Northeast resident himself, Jay said he wanted to open a local, al halal grocery store for the community, rather than see his neighbors walk or drive long distances to get the products they were searching for. 

Business owning is not a new concept for Jay. In fact, he said he has had a passion for business since his childhood. His family comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo — or Congo — in Central Africa and both his mother and uncle, he shared, owned their own businesses there. 

Jay moved to Kansas City in March 2016 after living in a Tanzanian refugee program for 19 years. 

Utilizing his familial entrepreneurship background, he opened up a couple other grocery stores in various locations within Kansas City prior to his current spot along Independence Avenue, but has since closed those stores. 

85% of Jay’s Grocery and Restaurant’s clients, Jay said, are looking for African food and a diverse range of groceries. 

Items offered at Jay’s Grocery can include anywhere from beans, cooking oil, lotion, fish — including fresh or dried sardines and tilapia — and cassava leaves, among others. Jay shared the business receives its products from suppliers in Chicago, Ill. 

He feels that his store has helped the Northeast community, and himself included, by allowing him to become financially independent, while supplying residents with the products they need. 

While Jay shared he enjoys all of his products as a business owner, the dry fish offered at Jay’s remains one of his favorite items and flour is popular among customers.

When asked about the employees who Jay hires to work within his store, he said he welcomes everyone.

“I don’t discriminate; I work with all races, usually [employees] come with an African [background] to help with communication skills,” Jay shared in an interview. 

He also mentioned his store will offer free samples of its products for customers. 

For additional information on Jay’s Grocery and Restaurant, visit: https://jaysgrocery.com/about-us/.