Browne’s Irish Marketplace in Kansas City turns 135: 'It reminds us of what we grew up with'

Founded in 1887, Browne’s is the oldest Irish business in the world — outside of Ireland. The marketplace is known for its Reuben sandwiches, shelves lined with grocery items missed by new Irish immigrants, and imported artisan handcrafts.
Spirits are high at Browne’s Irish Marketplace at 3300 Pennsylvania Ave. on the Friday before St. Patrick’s Day.

Surrounded by a horseshoe of Irish whiskey, fiddler Peter LaFond appears barely able to arc his bow for fear of toppling bottles off the shelves when Ian Browne-McClain, 18, suddenly enters the frame to add the grace notes of an Irish tin whistle.

Browne’s is known for its famous Reuben sandwiches, shelves lined with grocery items missed by new Irish immigrants referred to as “just-overs” and fine imported artisan handcrafts — ranging from Peaky Blinders-style caps to elegant crochet lace, tooled leather and traditional pottery.