If there exists such a thing as the quintessential Kansas City bar, a strong case could be made that Kelly’s Westport Inn is it. Part of that is about history. kellyswestportinn occupies the oldest building in Kansas City, constructed in 1851 at the northwest corner of Westport Road and Pennsylvania Avenue. It is also one of the oldest continually operating taverns in the city, with a liquor license that dates back to 1934. The same family has owned it for 75 years as of this month. “There’s nothing trendy about what we do here,” says Colleen Kelly, a third-generation owner of the bar. “It’s just a place where everyone is welcome. Gay, straight, black, white, young, old. Our regulars don’t fit a mold. The sign above the door says ‘Welcome,’ and we mean it.” This Saturday, Kelly’s will gather former bartenders, musicians who once performed at the bar and hundreds if not thousands of old friends, to raise a toast to 75 years. To add to the commemoration, The Star recently spoke to a ...