Wichita lands another new grocery chain

It’s almost hard to believe, but there is yet another grocery chain coming to Wichita.

El Mercado Fresco is Eddie Musallet’s growing Kansas City, Mo.-based chain, and he’s planning to open his first Wichita store in a couple of months in the former Sav-A-Lot space at 1640 S. Broadway, near Harry and Broadway.

“That community right there . . . I think they need a supermarket there,” Musallet said.

In addition to recognizing a need, Musallet said he likes that the 16,000-square-foot space used to be a grocery store.

He said he is not concerned knowing that Kansas City, Kan.-based El Rio Bravo Supermarket also recently entered the market and has another store on the way.

“I know them. They’re friends of mine. They’re good people.”

This will make Musallet’s fifth El Mercado Fresco. He has two stores in Kansas City, Mo., and is working on another new store there. He also has two in Kansas City, Kan., and is working on another in Olathe.

“We carry a lot of American items plus Spanish items,” Musallet said.

There will be a meat counter, a bakery, fresh produce and a taqueria with prepared food such as tacos and other Mexican dishes.

Musallet said he’d like at least one more El Mercado Fresco in Wichita, perhaps on North Broadway.

This is his first Wichita venture, but Musallet owns a total of 32 grocery stores, convenience stores, cell phone stores and check-cashing businesses.

There’s a chance he could bring some of those other businesses here.

“I’m going to see how the market is after I open this first store,” Musallet said.

“I’m an entrepreneur. . . . If I see good opportunities, I take ’em.”

This story was originally published August 10, 2020 at 2:23 PM.