Well-known Kansas City jazz bar is temporarily closed after weekend fire
A popular Kansas City jazz bar is temporarily closed after a blaze erupted in its HVAC system this weekend.
Green Lady Lounge in the Crossroads will likely be closed for at least a few weeks, potentially a month, said general manager Jen Wismeier.
“It’s mostly cosmetic,” she said Monday. “There was a little hole that needed to be patched in the ceiling.”
In the meantime, Green Lady is moving its staff and music acts to its sister concept, Black Dolphin, which is next door.
The fire erupted Sunday and appeared to start in the rooftop air-conditioning system. Wismeier said the daytime employees noticed the smoke and evacuated quickly. Nobody was injured.
“Just feeling really grateful right now that it wasn’t worse than it was,” Wismeier said.
Firefighters were called to the spot at 1809 Grand Blvd. just after 12:20 p.m. Sunday, according to the Kansas City Fire Department, where they discovered the fire.
“They were able to get it out quickly,” said Michael Hopkins, battalion chief with KCFD. “Not a major fire, but enough to cause some damage to the roof.”
The total cost of the damage is still being determined. Wismeier said they’re continuing to meet with city officials to determine next steps.
“A lot of it is the water,” she said. “The water that damaged the carpet — it’s all gotta go … vintage mirrors and light fixtures.”
Hopkins told The Star that crews had to cut open the roof in a few places to extinguish the fire.
Thankfully, Wismeier said, the city has been cooperative in helping the jazz spot reopen.
“Everybody with the city has just been so kind,” Wismeier said. “We have some really awesome people in this city.”
Unfortunately for the crew, this may mean Green Lady will miss World Cup traffic. Matches begin June 11.
“I don’t want to miss out on their opportunity to welcome,” Wismeier said.
John Scott first opened Green Lady Lounge in 2013, replacing nightclub Balanca’s. The spot aims to offer an authentic jazz experience, with live music 365 days a year.
The building itself is nearly 130 years old, Wismeier said.
She advised customers to watch the bar’s social media pages for opening updates.