KCFreePress.com

After nearly a year hiatus, the 46-year-old Mike's Tavern, long a staple of the Rockhurst/UMKC neighborhood, is back open for business. A partnership that owns The Gaf and Cantina del Ray in Waldo took control of the space at 54th and Troost last year, and spent months rehabbing the interior and exterior. The decision to buy Mike's was not a purely economic one. "It's been an institution in Kansas City since '64" said part-owner Tyler Brook. "It needed to be done. That's also why we didn't change the name."

Those familiar with the old Mike's are in for a surprise. What was once a verifiable dive is now an exceedingly tasteful joint, equal parts neighborhood tavern and casual eatery. The stage that hosted hundreds of bands over the years has been removed, as have the pool tables, electronic dartboards and pinball machines. During my visit, as wide-eyed diners entered the tavern, Brook greeted them warmly and casually.

"Be sure you check out the ladies' room," he urged. "You don't have to be afraid anymore." Indeed the previous incarnation of Mike's featured one of the more unappealing bathroom situations in the city. Now, the lavatories have been built out with slate tile, new hardware and a jaunty blue paint-job.

The menu is admittedly a work in progress, offering quality versions of standard bar fare like burgers, chicken sandwiches, wings, mozzarella sticks and fish & chips. "The menu is a on a chalkboard for a reason," said Brook. "We are always up for changing it around. We're going to see what works and what doesn't." To appeal to a variety of people, he also plans to offer daily drink specials, happy hours and late-night deals for college students.

A number of regulars from the previous Mike's Tavern have stopped by to investigate their old digs, and I certainly heard a couple of them express mild disappointment that the vibe had been considerably altered. Nonetheless, the new ownership and staff are treating the transition very tactfully. The employees are among the friendliest I have encountered in Kansas City. One night, the bartender introduced himself to his customers and shook their hands. The waitresses know the names of the old and new patrons alike, emphasizing the neighborhood orientation that Brook wants to perpetuate from previous years.

Though Mike's has been around for ages, it's currently a bar and grill in its infancy, looking to build ties with the neighborhood, develop a personality, and build bridges between new and old patrons alike.

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