Kansas City bar closed last month. Four longtime customers have reopened it
Open since 2016, Pawn & Pint closed last month.
Ultimately, though, the board game enthusiasts who patronize the downtown Kansas City pub only had to endure a few weeks before new owners stepped in to save the place.
“We just really didn’t want to see it close,” said Jacob Douglas. “We worked with the previous owner and the owner of the building to figure out a way to keep it open, continue the legacy, and hopefully incorporate our own twist.”
Douglas is now part-owner of Pawn & Pint with three other longtime customers: Aaron Nijsse, David Tate and Kat Suarez. It reopened Dec. 12.
“We are trying to be very community-driven and re-institute some of the events that had fallen by the wayside in the last few years,” said Tate.
That includes a Harry Potter club and a Dungeons and Dragons Adventurers league, Nijsse said, and maybe non-game events like singles nights.
They also plan to add more games to the shelves — there are already more than 1,000 in the space — and replace worn copies.
Adding food to the menu is a longer-term goal. For now, it’s prepackaged snacks and a full bar with specialty cocktails like the Wookie Punch (strawberry Smirnoff, peach schnapps, pineapple and cranberry juice) and the Wizards Butter Beer (Bud Light and butterscotch schnapps). They encourage customers to have DoorDash meals delivered or purchase food next door from Homesteader when that restaurant is open.
“We want people to celebrate their birthdays here, have your bachelorette party here, rent out our mezzanine for team-building exercises,” Douglas said. “Obviously, it’s not a typical bar vibe. We host role-playing games and people are doing Pokemon and Magic the Gathering. But it’s a relaxed place to enjoy yourself and get a drink. We want to include everyone.”
Hours may expand, but for now are 4 to 11 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, 1 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday. It’s closed Mondays.
