‘Very special place’: Kansas City’s Westport Saloon music venue to close
A live music venue in Kansas City’s Westport neighborhood is shutting down for good at the end of the year, the business owner announced Monday.
The Westport Saloon, which opened its doors in 2013, is planning to host the rest of its scheduled shows through the end of the year. But in an open letter, owner Travis Fields announced the business would not reopen in 2022.
“To the thousands of performers who have poured their hearts out on our stage, supported other artists, and Saloon’d themselves, you have our undying love and gratitude,” Fields wrote in the letter posted on Facebook. “You have all been a part of what we believe is a very special place.”
Fields did not state in his letter the reason for the venue’s future closure. An email sent to the business was not immediately returned Monday night.
COVID-19 has taken a toll on businesses that rely heavily on foot traffic locally and nationally. More than 100 area restaurants, for example, have closed since the beginning of the pandemic, The Star has previously reported.
The Westport Saloon, located at 4112 Pennsylvania Ave., frequently plays host to musicians from the Kansas City area. It recently celebrated its eight-year anniversary.
This story was originally published November 1, 2021 at 10:00 PM.
