Her airport debut is an early success; now Chef LaRonda LaNear is extending Safi Fresh’s runway with new Crossroads location

Changing your lifestyle can start with what you put on your plate, said LaRonda LaNear.

“Safi Fresh is all about educating people on the benefits and importance of eating clean. I’ve helped a lot of people lose weight and wean themselves off medication through changing their diet. I’m excited to do that on a larger scale and reach more people,” shared LaNear, owner of We Got It Covered and Safi Fresh. 

LaRonda LaNear, Safi Fresh, We Got It Covered; photos by Channa Steinmetz

Safi Fresh, a clean-food restaurant located at the new terminal at the Kansas City International Airport, is expanding its footprint beyond the airport; LaNear is set to open its first streetside, grab-and-go storefront Thursday, May 11 in the Crossroads Arts District. 

The health-conscious food spot is located at 1600 Campbell St. within the Crossroads Food Stop — a one-stop hub for takeout and delivery that features everything from Filipino food to pizza.

Click here to read about one of Safi Fresh’s neighbors at the Crossroads Food Stop, Nang Nang Lao Thai kitchen.

“[Safi Fresh] will have salads, wraps, bowls, fresh pressed juice, wellness shots, alkaline water — all the things that you need in order to live a clean, healthy lifestyle,” she noted. “Customers can also order us on GrubHub and Doordash, as well as call for office catering. … It helps our business when customers order directly from us, versus a third party service.”

Safi Fresh was born from We Got It Covered — LaNear’s catering and meal prep company that she founded in 2017. LaNear pursued Safi Fresh as a way to secure her spot at KCI, she said.

“It’s going really well at the airport,” LaNear said. “It was some of the hardest work I’ve ever had to do, but it’s historical and it’s life changing. I’ve been in business for six years, and the airport has had such a positive impact on our business.”

Click here to read more about We Got It Covered. 

RELATED: Why one chef calls city’s airport vote a ‘life-changing event for small businesses in Kansas City’

Safi Fresh within KCI's new airport terminal

Attendees at an open house for the new terminal at KCI explore new eateries, like Safi Fresh, at left, and Stockyards Brewing Co.; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News

Safi Fresh and We Got It Covered will both be operated from the kitchen in the Crossroads. Securing the spot felt like fate, LaNear said.

“I really love the energy of the Crossroads,” she shared. “It’s centrally-located to the communities I am trying to bring healthy food. I can reach people in the inner city as well as [the business workers] downtown. Eventually I would like to expand and go a bit further south, but I’ve alway wanted to be in the Crossroads.”

LaRonda LaNear, Safi Fresh, We Got It Covered; photos by Channa Steinmetz

With the launch of both LaNear’s airport location and upcoming grand opening of the Crossroads storefront in 2023, she acknowledged that work has been nonstop. 

“I haven’t had the time to really reflect and take it all in — I need to take a vacation,” LaNear said, laughing. “… But I believe if I work hard now, in a few years, I can take it easy; I can sit back and orchestrate. I do need to take a moment to reflect. Everything I am doing is to create a better life for myself and my family.” 

Interior ordering station at the Crossroads Food Stop

LaNear’s passion for cooking and serving others is motivation to go full steam ahead in her endeavors, she added.

“I’ve always been the cook in my family, with my friends and in every aspect of my life,” she said. “I’m big on creativity, and you have to be creative to keep coming up with new recipes and ideas. I also just love the freedom of being an entrepreneur and working for myself. I’m able to pursue my personal interests because I own the company.”

Through her We Got It Covered business, LeNear launched Warm Up KC — an annual event that provides free clothes, shoes, blankets and hygiene products to families in need. Warm Up KC has served more than 1,300 families in the past five years, she noted. 

LaNear’s north star is to spread healthy eating and education to each community across the Kansas City metro, she said. 

“I come from a family where soul food is big and we have different health issues,” LaNear said. “Eating healthy is an important part of my lifestyle, and I want to help people take control of their health.” 

Click here to connect with LaRonda Lanear on LinkedIn.