First Store Openings
Sidney and Mollie Ball opened their first store at 16th & Stewart in Kansas City, Kansas.
Always looking for innovative ways to serve their customers, Balls Food Stores has led the way with unique & forward-thinking shopping experiences. From in-store bakeries & delis in the 1980s to today’s online ordering & pickup for busy customers, there’s always something new on the horizon at their many locations. Balls Foods’ ongoing commitment to fresh foods, partnering with local suppliers & outstanding customer service has enabled the company to not only grow, but thrive. As times change, Balls Foods is constantly looking to the future in grocery trends, green store technology & supply chain sustainability. But the foundation of Balls’ success, customer service & commitment to the Kansas City metro community, will never change. And that’s progress!
Committed to the delivering exceptional in the value through our strategic inset, innovative approaches empower.
Sidney and Mollie Ball opened their first store at 16th & Stewart in Kansas City, Kansas.
Sidney and Mollie opened a new store at 21st & Quindaro Blvd. The store implemented a “cash-&-carry” system, offering lower prices for cash-only payments.
The third store at 34th & State Ave. opened, unveiling yet another innovation: Kansas City’s first large-scale supermarket format.
The fourth store at 55th & Leavenworth Road, opened in Kansas City, Kansas.
Balls Super Foods opened at 47th and Mission Road in Kansas City, Kansas.
Sidney and Mollie Ball turn over control of their company to their only son, Fred Ball. Fred Ball becomes chairman of Associated Wholesale Grocers.
Balls Foods opens the very first Price Chopper in the Kansas City metro area.
Two Original Hen stores are purchased from Buck Henson.
The first new Hen House store was built and opened in Lenexa, KS. The store was more upscale and focused on perishables.
David Ball (third generation) became the president of Balls Food Stores, leading the way into the 21st century.
Tippin’s Gourmet Pies, LLC was formed to purchase all the food and pie-manufacturing assets of Tippin’s Restaurants.
The Price Chopper in Olathe, Kansas was remodeled and reopened as “Payless Discount Foods,” a low-priced warehouse format store.
The company’s first Sun Fresh store was purchased from the Charles Ball family; it currently caters to the Hispanic population in the area & has become a very successful Ball’s venture.
A new Price Chopper was built at 5665 Bannister Rd. in Kansas City, Missouri.
Balls Food Stores celebrates their 100 year anniversary with a variety of activities and events including a visit from the Budweiser Clydesdales at many of their stores.
