HelloKansasCity.com has named Kelly's as one of Kansas City's top 5 bars! Check out the article below.
By: Christopher Lloyd
An irish family pub with a rich history dating back to 1947, Kelly's Westport Inn is a nostalgic bar with a healthy influx of young partiers on the weekends. Located in a 160 year-old historic landmark building, this bar has changed with the times while remaining a lovable throwback to Emerald Isle pubs of yore. In March 2010, the bar opened a roof patio overlooking Westport that quickly became a party destination -- arrive early if you want a rooftop spot. It's got ceiling fans for Kansas City's balmy summers and heat lamps come out when things turn cold.
http://www.hellokansascity.com/commons/pages/articles/bar/best_kansas_city_bars/221894/
July 18, 2011 - 6:44 pm
This past 4th of July weekend Mark Weber celebrated his 35th anniversary at Kelly's. Thirty five years ago Weber walked into Kelly's for a 35 cent beer to pass time while rush hour was in full force. Thirty five years later, he is still here! Thank you Mark, for three plus decades of smiling service. Your Kelly family loves and appreciates you very much!
After his surprise party this past Friday night, Weber wanted to share with his friends the following letter:
To all,
If you ever sit back and think about it, working at Kelly's is like being a cast member of a very long running off Broadway play. The employees are the cast and crew and the customers are the audience. I have been fortunate to hold one of the lead roles in this long running play for 35 years. Where I have been blessed is to have had the opportunity to work/perform with some of the best people on this planet. I would like to thank them all for making my role so enjoyable and easier to act out. We all know no successful play can last without its audience. Kelly's audience is its loyal customers that I see every week as well as the new faces that come in and become fans of our play. Last Friday night I got to be a part of that audience and that is something I rarely do. I got to view this audience and regardless of being young or old, rich or poor, people were intermingling and having a good time. It is this mixing up among people, either the audience themselves or with the Kelly's cast, that makes this long running play a success. I can honesty say that from this mixture of people I have found some of my most loved friends and cherished moments. Thank you all for making 35 years at Kelly's so fun and fast. I had an absolute blast and was totally caught by surprise last Friday. God did I pay for it Saturday! God bless,
July 8, 2011 - 1:53 pm
On Wednesday January 19th at 8:30pm Kelly's will be featured on "Drinking Made Easy" on HDNet. "Drinking Made Easy” follows comedian Zane Lamprey, his drinkin’ buddy Steve McKenna and veteran stand-up comedian Marc Ryan as they travel across the country discovering local pubs, watering holes, breweries and distilleries.
Watch Lamprey and his friends challenge Colleen Kelly to a bloody mary chugging contest along with a match of beer pong. For more information on the show go to www.drinkingmadeeasy.com
December 20, 2010 - 4:16 pm
The Pitch "Best of" awards 2010
Best Bar Patio
Perched on the second-story roof overlooking Westport, the patio at Kelly's Westport Inn is a party destination in and of itself. It's built to withstand the elements and all manner of drunken assholery, decked out with ceiling fans, a restroom, a full bar, heat lamps for the colder months, and multiple flat-screen televisions for watching the game. And if you can tolerate a hard-drinking crowd, and you can get there early enough to secure a table, there's no better place for aerial people-watching on weekend nights. Better yet, the patio — built following KC's citywide smoking ban in 2008 — only adds to the 160-year-old historic landmark's appeal. It demonstrates a willingness to change with the times, which is necessary for any bar's longevity.
November 2, 2010 - 3:09 pm
October 15, 2010 - 12:16 pm
This is the original cash register that sits in the Kelly's basement. It is anxiously awaiting its big return...that will never happen.
