Nigro parties with “The King”
At some point, even died-in-the-wool party people have to throw in the towel…
So it is longtime Westport business leader Bill Nigro is contemplating cashing in his party chips and moving on to less politically charged (and hopefully greener) pastures.
For the several years Wild Bill has complained about Kansas City mismanaging and mistreating Westport, while kow-towing to downtown’s newer, glitzier party zone, the Power & Light District.
And as age starts to set in, he’s toying with the possible sale of some of his Westport real estate properties, such as the former Torres Pizza home (4112 Pennsylvania), Buzzard Beach (4110 Pennsylvania) and Federal Storage (4021 Pennsylvania).
In recent years Nigro has battled with Kansas City over the costs merchants must pay to pay for “civil rights monitors” to oversee the “metal detector checkpoints” at entry points to Westport on weekend nights. According to the city, the monitors are there to prevent so-called racial profiling.
Which Nigro calls BS,
“Everybody walks through the metal detector,” he told Fox 4 last year after three people were shot by Johnny Kaws bar. “It’s impossible for us to profile because everybody walks through.”
Instead of wasting six figures on racial profilers, Westport could add more security that might have helped prevent the shooting, Nigro says.
“I think it gives us the ability to put more people on the perimeter and scare people off,” he told Fox 4. “Having security out there is a deterrent to crime.”
That wasn’t Nigro’s first trip to the plate fighting city hall on crowds and violence.
Several years back, Nigro set out outdoor speakers blasting country music to turn off under age rap and urban music enthusiasts, some of whom he suspected contributed to racial issues and shootings that have plagued Westport for years.
During the Black Lives Matter riots three years back, Nigro vowed to defend his bar properties at gun point if need be. Fortunately, it did not come to that.
At some point though, there comes a time to pass the baton to younger nightclub owners, and Nigro says he’s been fielding offers for Westport properties like the Buzzard.
So is there life after refereeing drunks and tangling with local politicos?
You betcha.
One concept Nigro its mulling is specializing in diabetic desserts…
“You know, one out of every four people over 60 is a Type 2 diabetic,” he says. “I’m a Type 2 diabetic. So oh yeah, there’s huge money in it.”
Nigro’s health issues lead him to develop some amazingly tasty – and healthy – treats.
“Next time you’re in town, I’ll make you some banana bread or squash bread with hardly any carbs in it,” he says. “And it tastes excellent, and the texture is just like regular banana or pumpkin bread – but it’s way better for you. And that’s what diabetics need, because it tastes good and it’s good for you. I’m not definitely going to do it, but I’m thinking about it.
“All you have to do is take sample around to all the doctors in town. Because even diabetes doctors have a hard time convincing people to get away from sweets, get away from carbs and get away from sugar.”
One thing Nigro is unlikely to miss about his never-ending battles in Westport; butting heads with pushy bar owners like Kelly’s Westport Inn.
Stay tuned…
