Kansas City Food Blog

Dave's Stagecoach Inn in Westport currently stays open until 3 a.m. That could change following an appeal of its 3 a.m. liquor license.

The appeal is being sought by Westport Presbyterian Church and its pastor, Reverend Scott Myers. Two months ago Myers wrote a letter to Kansas City public officials urging them to cut off Westport liquor sales at 11 p.m.

The 3 a.m. license was approved by the Regulated Industries Division, as was permission to "expand the premises." Longtime Dave's Stagecoach Inn bartender (and jukebox extraordinaire) John Yuelkenbeck said the bar was planning to add a patio for smoking. But  now, he says, "we really don't know. We're going to the appeal hearing and state our case."

Yuelkenbeck also mentioned activist Jim Grow as being against the 3 a.m. license. Grow is president of Westport Neighbors United. The group was instrumental in getting Westport bar XO Club closed.

According to this article by Grow on Westport Neighbors United's Web Site, Grow and his family "continuously patrolled the neighborhood nights the club [XO] was open, protecting property owners and residents, this went on for several years." The article also states, "When Dave's Stage Coach tried to go to 3:00 am the President of Westport Neighbors United [Grow] was again able to shut this attempt down as well." The article is not dated.  
 
Dave's Stagecoach Inn is asking its customers to fight Jim Grow and Rev. Meyers by showing up at the appeal. "We hope customers want to go down to the appeal hearing and talk without it getting too redundant," Yuelkenbeck says.

The hearing is at the Regulated Industries Division office, which is in Century Tower on 635 Woodland Avenue. It is scheduled for January 26 at 10:30 a.m.

-- By Owen Morris