If you want to buy a haunted building there's one for sale in KC

The Latin American restaurant Brix occupies the first floor of 4112 Pennsylvania Ave., one of Kansas City's most historic structures. Property owners Laurie Ingram and Bill Nigro possess documentation suggesting the building was constructed in 1843, potentially making it Kansas City's oldest standing structure. A century-old obituary of an early 1900s property owner confirms this construction date, and the Missouri Valley Special Collection's historical archives acknowledge that Nigro's building (formerly known as Mabry Hall) could be the city's oldest. However, definitive proof remains elusive - there's no official designation or commemorative plaque.

Possibly the oldest building in KC: 4112 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, Missouri Credit: Laurie Ingram

"Without historic register status, we can't definitively claim to be the oldest like Kelly's," Nigro explained.

The three-story brick edifice undoubtedly ranks among Kansas City's earliest buildings, dating back to at least the 1850s. Now, this historic property is available for purchase. Owner Bill Nigro maintains that his building at 4112 Pennsylvania stands as one of, if not the, oldest in Kansas City.

Listed at $2.49 million, reduced from an initial $2.9 million asking price, the 10,000-square-foot property spans three levels. Currently, the ground floor houses two thriving businesses: Fidel's Cigar Shop and Brix, a Latin American eatery. Nigro notes that the restaurant space is in pristine condition. The upper floors present a different picture: a combination of office suites, unfinished areas, and dated spaces untouched for years. While the building features a working elevator and recently replaced roof, it lacks dedicated parking and hasn't seen significant updates to the upper levels since Nigro's acquisition.

"A complete renovation of the second floor and partial overhaul of the third floor would be advisable," said listing agent Laurie Ingram. "However, there's an attractive 1,600-square-foot loft on the third floor, currently home to the Buzzard Beach manager. (Nigro) owns that establishment too."

A loft on the top floor of 4112 Pennsylvania Ave. in Westport. Laurie Ingram

Ingram was forthright about another notable aspect of 4112 Pennsylvania: "It's haunted," she stated. The building served as a waystation for orphaned children traveling west during the mid-to-late 1880s, operated by the Odd Fellows charitable fraternal organization. Later, it was converted into a medical facility with patient recovery rooms.

Throughout the years, residents have experienced unexplained phenomena - mysterious footsteps echoing through halls, children's laughter resonating in empty rooms, and strange orbs appearing in photographs. These occurrences are thought to be linked to the building's early history. Nigro, who owned Torre's Pizza and lived part-time above it during the 1990s - a space that later housed various establishments including A.C.'s Garage, Dark Horse Tavern, and Westport Saloon - confirmed these experiences.

"The building had its share of eerie sounds," he recalled. "Plenty of mysterious creaks and nighttime disturbances." Nigro, a longtime property owner and sometimes controversial figure in Westport's business community, expressed his intention to leave the neighborhood. Among his concerns is the allocation of resources, believing more emphasis should be placed on perimeter security rather than civil rights monitors at weekend entry points.

While Nigro retains ownership of the Buzzard Beach building and several nearby properties, he plans to sell these as well. "Within the next few years, I'll likely have completely divested from Westport," he shared. "It's been quite a journey dealing with both city officials and neighborhood matters over recent years. After four decades here, I think it's time to move on."

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