The competition is mighty and the mighty have fallen…
Without a doubt tough, times have hit the party zone known as Westport. Not even counting the obvious – Power & Light, Plaza, Martini Corner & Waldo – the once prosperous Westport is down, way down, but not totally out. And a drowning entertainment district will grab at whatever it can.
Most recently, “Liquor Control came out with a new law that gives catering permits to bars,” says Westport businessman Bill Nigro. “In the past, only restaurants could do it.”
The permits allow clubs to sell liquor in the great outdoors.
The person Nigro credits with the new life-saving law: Regulated Industries head Gary Majors.
“Gary Majors really went out of his way to help the bars,” Nigro says. “Here’s what prompted him to do it. This new state festival (law) is so difficult to put in place that he came up with a means for bars to get catering licenses to be outside so we could compete with the Power & Light District.
“You can’t really walk bar-to-bar but you can drink outside the bar (now). Under this ordinance, you have to get a daily permit to do it. So St. Patrick’s Day is going to be the first time the bars in Westport will be able to compete. And the timing is great with the economy down, the bad weather and all the competition. It’s only been in place five or six weeks.”
There’s more…
“It’ll especially be good for smokers, so it’s a big win for the nightclubs in Kansas City,” Nigro says. “And nobody asked (Majors) to do it. It’s just him seeing that the system was unfair and he went out of his way to do it.”
The early results look promising.
“The Dark Horse is going to be doing it,” Nigro says. “The Buzzard is going to be doing it. Kelly’s is going to do it.”
newbaum turk
Just make it bar-to-bar open drink policies. Jeez, other cities do it. As for Westport, their problem is obvious but the city won’t do anything about it. I’m sure many people will take this the wrong way but they wouldn’t let 500 white kids line 43rd street and fuck with everybody.
Eric
Agreed newbaum. Too many little punks running around down there trying to act like badasses. I haven’t been to Westport in 12 years. Too many shootings, fights…etc. Piss on Wesport, I hope it burns to the ground. P&L District all the way.
Holden Caulfield
Wow, you guys haven’t been to Westport in some time. The kids are gone and people are not getting shot down there every weekend. It sure as hell doesn’t look as scary as P&L does these days. I have seen two bloody fights at P&L that were five times worse than any I have seen in Westport. P&L just covers it up and has the Star and City Hall in their pocket.
I support my local businesses, they are the ones paying for P&L anyway.
Interesting
I would comment, but there is no point in doing that, oh well : (
The DLC
Agreed that P&L is scarier than Westport. It’s full of testosterone-laden, sexually frustrated drunk douchebags. These overgrown fratboys are more dangerous than teenagers who think they are tough.
Slip
Wesport is a historic and integral part of both Kansas City History & it’s Economy. Unlike the Power & Light district it is owned and operated by loyal local home grown Kansas Citians. They only wish to compete on a level playing field with the taxpayer financed entertainment megalopolis (Power and Light Disctrict). As a native Kansas Citian I am proud of this district and hope it achieves unforseen success. Perhaps the city city should seek ways to provide Wesport with such a protective parimeter so as to weed out undesirable elements of all colors. Doesn’t this city have enough blight, closing schools and fleeing population. Let’s work together to reverse this trend.
kidcongo
I don’t know where the hate for Westport comes from on this mb. I could put up logical, rational, factual arguments until I hurt, but no one would understand. Real Kansas Citians go to westport. Period. PNL is for out of towners and scene chasing fools. Enough.
DougWeltner
I used to run Westport for the most part. I sold it and have had many financial issues out south. Wish I still had Westport. Its getting better. The man you should thank is my old enemy Bill Nigro. I used to hate him, now I wished I listend to him back in the day, he was right, I was wrong. He is great leader, hope others see that. My apologies Bill.
Paulala
Eric, if you haven’t been to Westport in 12 years, how do you know what’s going there? I work a a bar/restaurant on weekends there and have never had any trouble. I work downtown during the week near P&L and drive through there on my way home from Westport and am more nervous there than Westport. I’ve been to The P&L and will most likely never go back.
newbaum turk
I have been to Westport recently and had a fantastic time. And yes it is fine RIGHT NOW. But when it warms up and summer gets here we all know what happens. I personally have been confronted many times down there. Once in front of Buzzard Beach I seriously thought I was going to die. Of course the cops are all by Kelly’s. Every year some perfectly innocent person is shot and killed there like that female biochemist from Gardner a couple of years ago or the guy close to the Hurricane before that. I too hate the P&l and want Westport to thrive but it won’t until people don’t have to walk the gauntlet and get fucked with by a bunch of 18 year olds who may or not be carrying a gun. And if a fight does break out you know damn sure you will fight at least 5 against 1. Again, they wouldn’t let 500 white kids hang out there but they let the black kids do it because if they don’t they are racist. It’s pure bullshit and is killing the business owners.
dave-o
The Festival law was approved by The State of Missouri and Regulated Industries. Hearne do you even bother fact checking anymore?
Duke
The River Quay was the best party zone this town has ever had. That and the old 12th Street. What a scene!! I hate Westport but go often to Sprint Center. Never stepped one foot in the P and L District. Cab to the East entrance and cab home.
eric
i do not think doug welter would say what you are claiming he said…i know him and he is very succesfull in leawood…
KellysGuy
Why do you say Weltner would not say good things about Bill Nigro? Is that because he is still high on blow or paying for hookers. Really, he does, cause he and I did it together many times when he worked down here and owned much of Westport. He is a sneaky, rat. He owes me a few hundred bucks for blow and more. No longer like him much. He had to sell one of his homes in Johnson County, cause he was going broke.
naughtygirl
Thanks for filling me in on Dougy. He spent several hundred on me many times. I used to hook in midtown, no more I am now married. He said his wife was an old bag and we did coke every time in an office at his place in Westport and in his car and in Kelly’s bathroom. He loved the stuff, he put down everyone in Westport, even his friends the Kellys, said they were poor white trash.
Jerry Arnoldy
You mean Irish Trash. Yea, Doug was a coke horse, as was I back in the day. I think he quit using about two years back. Told me he was getting divorced. He had a young, hot girlfirend then, but she dumped him and he stayed married. I used to own a bar in Westport, but no more. Bill is a good guy, Doug is a prick.
WestportPatron
Jerry I wouldn’t be talkin old man, you used to offer me and my girlfriend money for sex when we were only fifteen. You showed Kaulian, my girl, prono and she was fourteen, You should be in jail with that asshole Weltner. While Mr. Weltner was not a pedifile like you Jerry, he did buy coke from us and hire hookers, at least they were over sixteen.
eric
you guys sound like you are stuck doing the same thing, and the fact that he moved on and up is something you guys dont like…
DougWeltner
This is Doug, I think its wrong of you people to jump on someone for past misdeeds. Many of you guys also had substance abuse problems, as I did. I have gotten help, moved on. One reason I left Westport was its bad influence on me regarding women and narcotics. You people were no better than me, I just had more financial success then you did. My wife and I have resolved our issues. We are back together and I have admitted my short commings and being disloyal at times. Hope that makes all of you happy. Unlike the Kelly’s and others, I no longer cheat on my wife or family. You men need to fess up and do the same. Good luck in Westport, as for me, I am done there.
eric
i still dont think doug sent these messages, he is on vacation…