Hy-Vee brings new look to Kansas City-area stores

Hy-Vee is remodeling 14 stores in the Kansas City market as part a $90 million project that will bring new features and services to customers over the coming months.

The Midwestern grocer said this week that the store upgrades include unique foodservice offerings, new departments, updated signage, enhanced health and wellness services, and refreshed convenience stores at some locations.

Most renovations are slated to be completed by early next year, according to Hy-Vee. The West Des Moines, Iowa-based retailer said construction is under way at several locations.

Though the extent of the remodels and department updates will vary by location, changes generally will include new foodservice options such as Mia pizza, hibachi and sushi islands, Basin & Beauty department expansions, new floral departments, the addition of gift departments and HealthMarket expansions. Other efforts include the relocation and upgrades of in-store Starbucks cafés, installation of self-checkout lanes, the addition of Joe Fresh apparel, and the rebranding of Hy-Vee Gas locations to Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh Express locations.

So far, remodels have begun or been completed at two Hy-Vee stores in Kansas City, Mo. (5330 N.W. 64th St. and 8301 N. St. Clair Ave.); one apiece in Liberty, Blue Springs, Gladstone and Independence, Mo.; two in Overland Park, Kan. (8501 W. 95th St. and 8900 W. 135th St.); and one apiece in Shawnee, Prairie Village, Lenexa and Lawrence, Kan. Hy-Vee said additional stores in the area will be remodeled starting in 2020.

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“Hy-Vee has a proud history in the Kansas City metro area, opening our first store in Overland Park in 1988,” Jeremy Gosch, executive vice president, co-chief operating officer and chief retail officer at Hy-Vee, said in a statement. “Thirty-one years later, we have 24 stores serving Kansas City, Lawrence, Topeka and Manhattan and are excited to make this nearly $90 million investment in an area that has been a great home to Hy-Vee.”

Also as part of the investment, Hy-Vee later this fall plans to open a new e-commerce fulfillment center in Kansas City to serve the area’s Hy-Vee Aisles Online grocery pickup and delivery customers. To meet the needs of its expanding online ordering services, the company announced in November 2017 that it aims to open three new e-commerce facilities over the coming years, including in the Twin Cities and Omaha, Neb. Hy-Vee already operates an e-commerce fulfillment center in Des Moines.

Overall, Hy-Vee operates more than 260 retail stores across eight Midwestern states and generates annual sales of $10 billion.

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