MaMa Jean's to open third store

MaMa Jean’s Natural Market is working to open its third store on East Sunshine Street next year.

Diana Hicks, co-owner of the health food stores, said the 24,000-square-foot store, located at 3530 E. Sunshine St. in the former Furniture Broker building, has an estimated opening date of March 1. She noted Missouri Supermarket Builders is serving as general contractor for the project, with design work by Butler, Rosenbury & Partners Inc.

Hicks said MaMa Jean's purchased the 24,000-square-foot store from Furniture Broker owners IDK LLC for an undisclosed amount. The registered agent of the limited liability corporation is Kerry Wilson, according to the secretary of state's website.

"We just felt like it would be good for us to have a presence on the east side of town," Hicks said of the purchase. "The building itself is perfect for our applications."

MaMa Jean's, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, operates an 11,000-square-foot location at 1727 S. Campbell Ave. and a 13,500-square-foot store at 1110 E. Republic Road, Hicks said.

The third location would comprise about 15,000 square feet of retail space, with the rest making up office and warehouse space. "We are going to move a lot of our offices out there," she said, noting the company's office employees are currently cramped.

Hicks said MaMa Jean's would hire at least 20 employees for the store and would bring in employees from other stores for a staff of about 40. The company currently employs about 90.