The Price Rite Market and Deli, lovingly known as “The Little Store,” has been a cornerstone of the Northland community for the last decade. Known for its delicious and affordable Italian specialties, the store is far more than just a place to grab a meal or pick up groceries—it’s a hub for building connections and fostering good neighbors. Owners Santo and Jeannine Smiroldo, who took over the store in 2014, have successfully created not just a culinary destination here, but a true community gathering spot.
When the couple purchased the abandoned wood-frame building, it was a forgotten relic of the early 1900s. Originally constructed as a single-family home, it had evolved into a feed store, and later, a corner market. But after the previous owners closed its doors in 2009, the building sat dormant for years, crammed with old groceries, broken fixtures, and forgotten relics.
For Santo, a grocery man himself, taking on this corner store was deeply personal. Growing up in Kansas City’s North End, he worked at his grandparents’ grocery and liquor stores, stocking shelves and helping out after school. When “The Little Store” went up for sale, he jumped at the opportunity to honor his family’s legacy while serving a new community.
After clearing out the space, the couple installed a commercial kitchen, allowing them to offer hot, fresh food to go. Refrigerated cases were stocked with take-and-bake favorites like pizzas, pastas, garlic bread, and sandwiches. Outside, when the weather is nice, the covered patio, filled with picnic tables, offers customers a bit of shade and the opportunity to enjoy their breakfast, lunch, or dinner alfresco.
Inside the store, narrow aisles lined with goods provide a cozy corner store charm as customers squeeze by each other, exchanging greetings while shopping or waiting for their food. The staff behind the counter greet regulars and newcomers alike with a smile. It is the kind of hospitality that makes strangers feel like neighbors.
The deli menu is packed with Italian specialties. Favorites include New York-style pizza, stromboli, Italian beef sandwiches and the crunchiest onion rings. People also flock in for their dinner special, a bucket of spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread for just $25.99, enough to feed a family of four.
Beyond the deli, the store is a treasure trove of culinary finds. Shelves are stocked with cans of Italian San Marzano tomatoes, jars of lupini beans and packages of high-quality dried pasta. You’ll discover cases of peach Nehi soda next to tubs of saltwater taffy, and even a bottle of Gooey Butter Cake-flavored crème liquor. Italian wines, slices of cheesecake, and Italian soda in every color and flavor round out the eclectic offerings.
Even after a decade, Santo and Jeannine are still at the heart of the operation, with Santo working behind the counter seven days a week. The couple’s shared vision has turned Price Rite Market and Deli into more than just a store—it’s a beacon of community spirit and proves the power that good food has to bring people together.
Whether you’re stopping in for a slice or picking up dinner for the family, you’ll leave with more than just groceries—you’ll leave with a sense of belonging, and that is worth celebrating.
Price Rite Market and Deli, 6400 N.W. Waukomis Dr., Kansas City, Missouri, 64151, (816) 587-1200, priceritemarketdeli.com