Browne’s Irish Marketplace

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Browne’s Irish Marketplace has been a center of Irish culture in Kansas City since 1887, operating in its current building at 33rd and Pennsylvania in KCMO since 1901. The store has been run for generations by the Flavin family.

Browne’s has been a favorite in my family and friends for some time. During my recent visit with my sister and my father, I found out that they have a history of getting together here for lunch. Friends like to visit on St. Patrick’s Day. I used to live in the neighborhood and walked by the store weekly. I stopped in several times for a veggie sandwich. I have also taken photos of the outside during sunsets (see below).

Let’s start off with the food. Browne’s deli may not be the biggest in the metro, but if you can find something you want and it’s affordable and the atmosphere is great, small is beautiful. Of course, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of Irish snacks for sale in the main deli room.

I normally get whatever veggie sub sandwich they are offering, but on our recent visit, I got an egg salad sandwich, Irish potato chips, and a soda. My father had a corned beef reuben and potato soup. Sister got a turkey reuben with Thousand Island dressing. We enjoyed the food and talked with the staff and other customers hanging out at the tables in the entrance room.

For dessert, we shared a package of raspberry flavored Irish shortbread cookies. Browne’s has a large collection of Irish desserts, snacks, and other products. Some of the cookies, coffees, jams, and jellies are shown in photos below.

In recent years, Browne’s added a patio and events space in back. They’ve been using the vacant lot in back of the store for special events for years, but now the space is spruced up.

The rest of the building–which feels like an old house–has rooms full of clothing and Irish-themed knick-knacks. Sure, much of it is green, but there appear to be lots of contemporary clothing, possibly imported from Ireland?

Browne’s Irish Marketplace, 3300 Pennsylvania Ave, Kansas City, MO 64111. Open daily from 10am to 5pm. Closed on Sundays and Mondays.