KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Merriam City Council met for more than two hours Monday night to discuss a $120 million redevelopment plan near Shawnee Mission Parkway and Antioch Road.
In the very last minute of the meeting, city officials revealed that Trader Joe’s had filed a building permit for a location at the northwest corner of the intersection.
The redevelopment plan is the latest in a series of developments that are transforming the intersection from vacant big box retail stores into a mixed-use development.
“We have had a couple of building permit applications submitted for that project,” a city staffer said before bringing up a copy of a building permit filed by Trader Joe’s on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.
Those remaining in the Council Chambers briefly applauded after the permit was flashed on the screen.
Merriam Mayor Bob Page then accepted a motion and adjourned the meeting.
Trader Joe’s has had two locations in the Kansas City market for several years; a location in the Ward Parkway Shopping Center in Kansas City, Missouri, and a second location in Leawood’s Town Center Crossing.
KSHB 41 News reporter Oliva Acree reported earlier Tuesday that the council voted to move ahead with the $120 million Grand Station Marketplace.
In addition to a 12,500-square-foot grocery store, the Grand Station Marketplace plan includes a restaurant and over 200 apartments.
The city is committing $32 million in bonds and extending the TIF district around I-35 to 2037.
City leaders also started a Community Improvement District (CID) for the development. Purchases made there will have a 1% sales tax, except for groceries.
“It's been important to the council all along that if we were ever to get a grocery store and we were able to have a CID that we don't add sales tax on to the cost of food,” said Chris Engel, Merriam City administrator.
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