The possibility of Blanc Burgers + Bottles
Battle of Westport Square: Times are Tough All Over
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Sections
Dexter Morgan
I fail to see how a slowly dying Westport should be considered a huge loss for the city. It’s no longer a destination point and hasn’t been for quite some time. The bars that are there are nothing special; you can find similar/better pubs all over town. And even if Blanc leaves Westport, wouldn’t that be good news for the Flea Market? That’s a rather large connection point that isn’t touched on in this column.
kidcongo
Yeah Dexter; why should Kansas City care, I mean it’s only been there since the mid 1800s and is one of the few true urban neighborhood entertainment districts we have; I mean let’s get serious. See you for Happy Hour at the Shark Bar; now that’s real spirit.
Dexter Morgan
Westport is so far past its prime, the whole thing should undergo an entire overhaul. Why do you think businesses are failing there? It sits there getting eaten alive by the P&L, the Plaza, Brookside and now Waldo, with everyone migrating out to areas with more options. How many people do you know that frequent Westport?
I’m not saying tear the place down, I’m just pointing out that the people in KC for the most part have chosen to abandon Westport, and it doesn’t appear to show signs of turning around unless we see a concentrated effort with some vision and creativity put together. Rope off the streets on the weekends, let people walk around with drinks in cups like Key West or Mardi Gras, find a way to draw people back down there or in a couple more years you’re going to see even more businesses closed – and the city will keep right on going, with or without Westport and all its history.
craig glazer
Dexter you guys are both right…THE CITY BEING THE DUMB IDOTS THEY ARE…BLEW ALL ITS DOUGH ON DOWNTOWN AND BEFORE THAT CITY MARKET…you don’t throw money at losers in a ghetto, it almost never works anywhere…especially with no tourism like WE ARE…
Answer, the city should have put its money into Westport,Plaza and Brookside,Waldo, cleaned up downtown and moved on…you guys are right there is no new news in Westport…the great places have gone…leaving only James Westfall and Bill Nigro to try and save it….tough job with no big money comin in from an outside source…and no major restaurant or night spot will take a chance in Westport today…you need several and hotels so on….
Yes it is sad, but poor city leadership lost this battle in the late 90’s when Westport had a shot to recover…Even the Plaza and Brookside could use some more energy and investment,upgrades and new BIG STUFF…Plaza needs more nightlife…it has only a few bars that draw after l0 PM on weekends…its a bit quiet as well….
Westport was once a fun,fun area now its a shadow of what once was…and fading…HELP..
kidcongo
It’s not that I’m anti PNL, I think it’s nice. I guess we’ll be the guinea pigs but I just don’t think it’s civically possible for a downtown to explode without the stadiums being down there. Thus I feel Wesport will be back once this reality sets in, if it can bridge the gap until.
I was actually living in Baltimore when the Cordish’s redid the harbor. The nucleus was the construction of Camden yards and it made it boom; without Camden being there I didn’t see it making it but who knows. Without stadiums you need downtown jobs and if that happens then everyone wins and long live PNL.
jojo
another piece of crap by the city of kcmo.
The power and light will be a ghost town in
5 years…the crowds are starting to turn
dark and its inevitable what happens then.
I’m not a racist just a practical businessman
who understands what happens.
You will see parts of joco go bad also. The bad
elements are moving into northern joco and
along the metcalf corridor. Businesses will go
south as the only places left there are buy
here pay here dealers and pawn shops and pay
day loans.
the city is on life support. The minorities are
mvoing into areas all over. Look at the downslide
of oak park mall. Look at the westport area and
its downfall.
Why ….demographics of this town are changing.
The north side of i 435 in joco is going bad.
Everything is moving out south as they move there to avoid the problems.
Even hooters on metcalf notes the problems that
are moving into their area.
The plaza is dying. Most bars are up for sale
or being sold. Many will close down. Restaurants ae hurting badly but because of the
local community surrounding the area the
plaza should survive.
Its like a plague moving throughout the city.
craig glazer
JOJO, is not wrong here, he is telling it like it is…sadly white folks see any large group of black folks and run…period..now that KCMO has such a large black population, thats what has happened…Westport got hit first now most of KCMO follows…The Plaza may hold up somewhat as he said correctly…but yeah its a run to Johnson County and a run to the upscale part of Johnson county or redneck parts…this is how it is nationwide…add in the depression(newstyle one) and not good…so you may not like JoJo’s style but he is right
rick
The obvious answer. Build a stadium in westport that will bring them.
smartman
If the city and state would get their heads out of their asses and build the school system up the right way in KCNO we wouldn’t have so much white flight to the burbs. There is no reason there should not be a first class K-12 school downtown that parents will fight to get their kids into. Good future citizens and leaders come from good schools that teach morals, manners and discipline along with math, science and the arts and humanities. Until someone at City Hall and in Jeff City realizes that big money follows good schools KCMO is fucked. In the meantime there is no reason to be afraid of someone because of their skin color. If you are get a damn conceal carry permit so you can man up.
Rick M
Westport isn’t totally hopeless. On a good night with the right bands – touring or local – the Record Bar can bring the magic. And more often than not it does.
Sam Newby
Blanc Burgers and Bottles is one of the best KC originals in town no question about it. I would love to see them do both locations. Beyond great food, their owners are the highest caliber in biz smarts and character- such a great KC success story!