Five months after Kansas City declared Downtown Market a public nuisance and its landlord filed for eviction, the store remains open and busy. The city cited 184 police calls over two years, including a January 2025 shooting, in a cease-and-desist letter. The landlord, The Alexander Company, argues the tenant’s operation violates its lease by attracting disorder.

The dispute centers on conflicting narratives. Owner Shawn Choudry counters that the city’s problems predate the market and that alcohol is under half of sales. Meanwhile, neighboring business The Grand claims the surrounding chaos is hurting its $69 million investment and has requested tax relief, citing the area's degraded state ahead of the World Cup.

KCPD data shows 215 calls to the address since September, with many involving disturbances or weapons. Mayor Quinton Lucas states the city will pursue compliance through citations and the ongoing court case, without ruling closure out. However, the corner’s issues tie into larger systemic challenges like homelessness and policing resources, meaning shuttering one store offers a limited solution.