Every big city deserves a great Irish pub: KC Hooley House set to fill P&L vacancy before March Madness, NFL Draft
December 8, 2022 | Startland News Staff
A quartet of entrepreneurs plans to bring a traditional Irish pub with a modern twist back to the Power & Light District in early 2023 — hinting at a made-from-scratch kitchen menu, alongside handcrafted vintage and new mixologist inspired cocktails.
“Every big city nationally and internationally has a great Irish pub, the city’s pub, a place to be proud of, we look forward to making KC Hooley House that destination for locals and tourists alike,” said Ryan Haverty, co-owner of KC Hooley House, 170 E. 14th St., in downtown Kansas City.
The 9,774-square-foot space is the former home of the Dubliner, which closed in March. Haverty previously operated the Dubliner and teased changes ahead for the venue, which first debuted as an Irish Pub called Raglan Road.
RELATED: Dubliner bids farewell after 10 years in Power & Light District
“Our team is hard at work refreshing the space and we look forward to sharing more details about the concept in the near future,” said Haverty.
KC Hooley House is the vision of four local entrepreneurs: Haverty, Ryan Weekley, Jamie Bethke, and James Eddy, who collectively have more than 50 years of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry.
The new pub is expected to serve elevated American classics, as well as a modern approach to traditional Irish favorites, according to Haverty.
The space will feature a large dining area where local and regional acts will perform. A second bar and lounge area will showcase a unique small plate menu with an extensive and entertaining craft cocktail experience giving guests two completely different concepts to enjoy under one roof.
KC Hooley House — along with the neighboring, soon-to-launch Blue Sushi Sake Grill — is set to open to the public as the entertainment district continues to ramp up as it prepares for March Madness and the NFL Draft in Kansas City, according to Power & Light officials.
And the venue is well-positioned within the KC Live! Block at Power & Light — recently the scene of watch parties for the FIFA World Cup and Kansas City Chiefs games, said John Moncke, president of Power & Light District.
“KC Hooley House will add to the Kansas City Power & Light District experience,” he added. “Throughout the last several months I’ve gotten to know the amazing local team behind this concept, and I cannot wait to help their vision come to life next year.”
Featured Business
2022 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Before prime time: Did Amazon’s 1999 arrival in Kansas deliver on hype?
In 1999, Amazon — still in its infancy — meant only two things to most consumers: low-priced books and CDs. But for one small town in Kansas, residents believed the online retailer had the potential to be a game-changer for their economically depressed, rural community. “People in Coffeyville were practically doing cartwheels in the streets,” said…
FCC head: Repealing net neutrality will boost innovation, investment; startups disagree
The Federal Communications Commission is preparing to eliminate regulatory rules that prohibit internet service providers from interfering with consumers’ access to web content. FCC chairman Ajit Pai announced in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that the regulatory body will vote Dec. 14 to repeal 2015 Obama-era regulations. That regulatory model, referred to as Title II,…
Bitten by Disney sharks, Roy Scott beats the odds with Healthy Hip Hop
When a potentially life-altering business deal suddenly vanished, Roy Scott didn’t get mad — he got funded. “Disney thought they were going to snuff us out, but all they did was put gasoline on this fire,” said Scott, founder of Kansas City-based H3 Enterprises (Healthy Hip Hop). Rewind. Starting his company with a live performance-based…
Governor-in-waiting talks startup funding, Amazon and why entrepreneurism is bigger than KC
The strongest person in the room isn’t necessarily the loudest, Jeff Colyer said. “Kansans are used to being overlooked,” he said. “My role as lieutenant governor was to be a little quieter. You give your best advice. And when decisions are made, you’re going to work to support them.” Soon, however, he’ll be the state’s…