Grocer's Warehouse complex sells to Taing Capital Group

The Grocer’s Warehouse complex, anchored by Hufft Architecture and Fabrication in the historic Roanoke Park neighborhood of Kansas City, Mo., has sold to Taing Capital Group, LLC.

Originally a manufacturing facility built in 1949 by Kansas City grocer Fred Wolferman, the iconic building was redeveloped into creative office and living space in 2015. The 60,000 SF building has seven commercial tenant spaces and studio loft apartments.

Hufft plans to remain in its current space as the GW anchor, along with the other tenants including Studio Lofts, Real Fitness & Conditioning, Pure Workplace Solutions, Roanoke Park Conservancy, MEDiAHEAD and ZancTank Concepts.

“We have realized our master plan for the Grocer’s Warehouse campus and properties. It has been a phenomenal process to see it transform. While our primary roles lie in running Hufft, we were ready for a group to take over the management and all of the responsibilities that come with that. We are very much looking forward to staying a part of the GW campus and Roanoke Park for a long time. The Roanoke Park Conservancy is really to be credited for their efforts in making this location a desired place to work and live. That group holds the original visionaries that believed in this beautiful area of Kansas City,” said Hufft co-founder and principal, Jesse Hufft.

Logan Freeman of Clemons Real Estate and Parker Webb with Third Space Property Group represented the buyer and Pat Murfey of Evergreen Real Estate Services represented the seller in the June 2020 transaction.

"This was a great collaboration between the current ownership group and the new buyers. It was definitely an uphill battle with the pandemic and commercial tenants being a large percentage of the rental income. Securing financing was tricky, but we had a local lender step up who believed in the project as much as we do. Both sides worked together great and are going to continue this vision for the Grocer’s Warehouse and the surrounding Roanoke Park area," Freeman said.

Read previous Grocer’s Warehouse stories by MWM here:

July 2019

Sept 2017

Grocers Warehouse Development adds commercial office space to Midtown KC

The Grocers Warehouse development is continuing its expansion, adding four new commercial office spaces for lease, ranging from 1,500-4,200 SF.

The mixed-use community, which existed as grocery distribution facilities in the early 1940s, is comprised of two buildings located at 3525 Roanoke Road and 3612 Karnes Boulevard. The site offers picturesque views and convenient access to one of Kansas City’s finest green spaces- Roanoke Park.

"The Midtown location is unique, just minutes from both the 39th Street Shops and Restaurants and I- 35, yet nestled into a park setting. With both residential and commercial use, the development has an energy both day and night, every day of the week," said Jesse Hufft, principal and co-founder of Hufft, who is overseeing the expansion's design and fabrication.

Anchored by Hufft, the current campus tenants also include ZancTank Corporate Office (locally known as Red Door Grill), Roanoke Park Conservancy, MEDiAHEAD, PURE Workplace Solutions, Real Fitness and Conditioning and the Studio Loft Apartments.

“Preserving and finding new uses for existing buildings can prove to be a labor of love; however, the increased property value and positive synergy from a creative community translate into good business,” Hufft principal, Matthew Hufft said.

For tours or leasing inquiries, email info@grocerswarehousekc.com. More photos can be viewed here: ADDITIONAL PHOTOS.

ULI 2017 Developments of Distinction: The Grocers Warehouse

The Grocers Warehouse is the former home of Kansas City’s famed Wolferman grocery distribution facility. The 60,000-square foot building located at the base of Roanoke Park in midtown Kansas City sat abandoned and forlorn for years until Matthew Hufft and Jesse Hufft began dreaming about reinventing and restoring the property.

“It had been vacant for over 10 years, and we kept thinking there had to be a way to revive the building. Trees were growing from the inside of it, there were lots of broken windows and it was just neglected,” said Matthew Hufft, owner of Hufft, a design collective that designs, constructs and fabricates everything from office space to office furniture. “We kind of thought, ‘We live in the neighborhood. Here is a building that needs help. How do we creatively put ourselves inside of it?”

The Huffts envisioned a mixed-use adaptation and historical preservation that could house their design firm and fabrication processes and also include 14 studio loft apartments. The project enabled Hufft to more than double its office and fabrication space from its previous 15,000 square foot location in Westport while more than doubling its headcount in two years.

“I like to say the building allowed us to become the company we wanted to be,” Jesse Hufft said. “We hope that what we have done with this building is going to add longevity, value, beautification, and maybe just a vibe and legitimacy to the area-- and we absolutely love having the chance to put life back into this spot."

The project was first among several redevelopments taking place in the Roanoke neighborhood and is often praised for serving as a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization, but the Huffts credit the nonprofit Roanoke Park Conservancy with leading the charge.  

Hufft provided development, architecture, design and general contractor services for the project.