This ghostly image of Kelly's Westport Inn alludes to its shrouded past. Is it the oldest building in Kansas City? Probably not, but we've got a brass plaque that says so. Whenever the current building was constructed (circa 1850) it's older than anyone you know. We do know that the grand son of Daniel Boone operated a grocery store here for a time.

Around the turn of the century the property was acquired by the Wiedenmann family and run as a first class grocery, catering to the elite of Kansas City. They retained the ownership of the building for over ninety years, but with the repeal of the 18th amendment they rented the building to Phil Taggart who opened the first saloon at 500 Westport Road. The "Wrestlers Inn" featured live wrestling and, from what my Mother told me, a rather wild after hours club upstairs. At the end of the second world war three Pendergast ex-cops bought the joint, the Westport Inn was born. A few years later the Kelly family connection began with the arrival of one Randal Kelly.

Born in County Clare, Ireland, Randal came to the USA in 1926. Once here he worked on the docks of New York, built cars in LA, tended bar in San Francisco, and served in the South Pacific before landing at 500 Westport Road. Hired as a bartender, he soon became Art Brock's partner in the joint. Known as the Irish consular, Randal became famous for helping young Irish men and women get started in the U.S. A friend of the common man, Randal was always good for a drink or a small loan for a man down on his luck.

Randal ran the place and built a loyal clientele over nearly forty years. So popular did Kelly's become that, after 1966, he closed on St. Patrick's Day for fear of overcrowding the bar. After Randal retired from the day to day operation of the saloon, he still came around to meet and greet. His eldest son, Randy, took over the everyday job of continuing the tradition. After Randy wised up and moved to the Lake of the Ozarks the baton was passed to Randal's two youngest sons, Pat and Kyle.