Big changes are coming to our Cosentino’s Brookside Market—you’ve likely noticed all the construction happening on the west side of the store. This is going to big a big improvement for a neighborhood! Recently I stopped by and spoke with Gary Arb, Store Director, to find out the details.

This is a huge expansion for the market—one that has been planned for a while. Gary explained the store is being built out 18 feet to the west, adding much more square footage for more food options and services. The old outdoor patio has been removed; the new plans include a large indoor eating area with public rest rooms. All of the refrigerated items, including the grab and go selections, will be in closed cold cases with doors—easier to keep these items chilled when storms cause electrical service disruption. There will still be a hot and cold food bar, plus a new Panini press for sandwiches, new islands, and the floral department will move to the new space. The current “center” of the store, displaying canned goods, snacks, bread, and other basic food items will not change. The wine department will expand, adding more varieties, and there will be a beer cold case in the liquor aisle. You;ll see new flooring in the entire store and there are no plans to change the entrance and parking lot. Gary also mentioned they are adding a couple of self service check out lanes for customers, “just out of necessity for those who have a couple of quick items to buy.”

Way back in 1948, two brothers started a small neighborhood grocery that eventually grew into Cosentino’s Food Stores. The same family still operates the company today, which includes the KC area Price Chopper and Sunfresh stores. Gary has been at this location for five years, after working at a few other Price Chopper locations including the Brookside store. He loves the job, describing himself as a “people person”, and especially likes greeting the same regular customers, watching the youngsters in the neighborhood grow up and continue to shop here. “My biggest joy in this job is the people; I’d be in trouble if I was in a cubicle! Our family owners are committed to the neighborhoods they are in—they know the area residents are what make us successful. We try our best to give back to them and improving this store is another way we can show our gratitude for their business.”

Knowing that most large construction projects don’t finish on time, Gary is hopeful the construction is finished and customers can shop the new space by the busy Thanksgiving shopping season. Although the construction mess is a bit inconvenient and noisy–it will all be worth it in the end for a stylish, updated Brookside grocery!