Kansas City Blog

When was the last time you had a drink at Mike's Tavern?

On a rainy, muggy afternoon, I caught up with Brookside native and Mike's proprietor, Kurt Wirken. To the sounds of old Irish drinking songs, we talked about the neighborhood and his east side bar.

 
The Pitch: How long has Mike's been around?

Kurt Wirken: It was established in 1964. It's been a bar and grill a long time before that. I've been here for eight years. I was fortunate enough to meet Mike Renner, the guy that named the place Mike's shortly after we reopened two years ago. He and his wife, Beverly, came in and showed me some bullet holes I didn't know existed and told me some stories of the old days. It's got a lot of history to it.
What kind of bar is Mike's?

I call it a neighborhood bar. We've got a couple colleges in the neighborhood. For years and years, it's just been a spot over here on the east side of town. 

Which night is the busiest here?

A lot of times, it depends on the music. The weekends are busier than the weekdays. I'd say Friday night. When we've got a good band in here on Friday night, that's when we really get rockin'.

What are some other cool places on Troost?

G's Jamaican Cuisine and B.B.'s Lawnside BBQ, a few blocks off of Holmes and if you go north, Martini Corner is not too far off of Troost. Mad Jack's is a great place to go for soul food. Good fish.

How do you want Mike's to fit into the music scene, neighborhood or the community?

Sometimes, I feel we are running more of a community center more than a bar. The music scene, we let it all happen pretty organically. Most everyone that plays here has some kind of connection whether it's through the neighborhood, familial or patronage of some kind. Just letting it be what it is, it does pretty well in the greater scheme of things.