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
Bodyrite duo cooks meal prep into personal training concept
Don’t just go with the flow at a traditional gym, Jamil Nelson said. Go with Flo. “Treadmills and ellipticals are pretty archaic to us,” said Nelson — or “Mr. Bodyrite” to his wife, Florese. “A jump rope is way better because it’s going to blow up your heart rate.” Modern workouts are all about functional,…
Tech tracks workplace bias: It exists ‘whether you want to face it or not’
During a summer internship with a large Kansas City corporation, college student Louis Byrd was unexpectedly called into the HR office. Although the incident was about 10 years ago today, it has not yet left his mind, Byrd said. “I’ll never forget this,” he said. “HR told me that the people on my team had…
EyeVerify explains why it changed name to Zoloz
More than two months after revealing a curious name change, EyeVerify is offering details behind its evolution to become “Zoloz.” The fast-growing biometrics tech firm announced in August that it was rebranding as Zoloz, but initially offered little information about the reason for or meaning behind the name change. Headquartered in downtown Kansas City, a…
Sandy Kemper-led YEP KC primes teen entrepreneurs for success
If all extraordinary students knew they were exceptional, the world would be a much more entrepreneurial place, said Sandy Kemper. “It’s the future of our city,” said Kemper, co-founder of YEP KC, about young talent. “If we can capture them early, before they go to college, we can create a network that can sustain them…