Jimmy's Jigger

Jimmy’s Jigger is a historic neighborhood dive bar at 1823 W 39th Street in Midtown Kansas City, Missouri, across from the University of Kansas Medical Center — a watering hole that traces its operation to 1933 and took the “Jimmy’s Jigger” name when Jimmy Bowers took it over in the 1950s.¹² After closing following a 1991 ownership change, the bar was relaunched under its original name in March 2024 by Jimmy’s grandson, Timmy Bowers.²

Description

Jimmy’s Jigger is a classic neighborhood dive bar on the corner of 39th Street and State Line Road in Midtown Kansas City, directly across from the University of Kansas Medical Center campus.² The establishment has been a Kansas City fixture since 1933 and is commonly described as one of the city’s oldest continuously associated watering holes; it acquired its enduring name in the 1950s when Jimmy Bowers took over the corner bar.¹² For decades it was a generational gathering spot for KU Med students, who used the phrase “study at the J-building” as code for drinking at the Jigger.²

The current incarnation pairs the historic bar with an adjoining Louisiana-style kitchen, and reviewers single out Cajun and Creole offerings such as crawdads, a fish po’ boy, and fresh oysters alongside the bar’s dive-bar character.²¹ The bar operates Tuesday through Sunday and is closed Mondays, with typical hours of 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. midweek and later close on Friday and Saturday.¹

Ownership and history

The corner bar that became Jimmy’s Jigger has roots going back to 1933.¹ It took its name in the 1950s when Jimmy Bowers took over and built it into a Midtown institution, especially beloved by the nearby KU Medical Center community; the University of KU Med recognized the bar’s contributions in a publication marking the school’s centennial, and Jimmy Bowers was made an honorary member of multiple medical-school classes.²³ Jimmy Bowers retired in 1991, the bar was sold, and Bowers died in 1995; his ashes were spread at the location per his wishes.²

In March 2024, Jimmy’s grandson, Timmy Bowers, relaunched the bar under its original “Jimmy’s Jigger” name after new property owners gave him the opportunity to revive his grandfather’s establishment — fulfilling a promise he had made to restore it.² Timmy Bowers now operates the bar.²

Links

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JimmysJigger/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmysjigger/
• Phone: (816) 531-5556¹

Sources

Disputes

• Founding year / lineage. “Since 1933” (Yelp/listings) vs. pre-Prohibition origin under a prior name with a 1962 sale to Jimmy Bowers (uncorroborated search assertion) vs. “named in the 1950s under Bowers” (KCTV5). Page presents the corroborated 1933-tradition + 1950s-naming framing; deeper lineage flagged.

Footnotes

1. Yelp — Jimmy’s Jigger, 1823 W 39th St, Kansas City, MO (listing “Updated May 2026,” dive bar). https://www.yelp.com/biz/jimmys-jigger-kansas-city — asserts: address 1823 W 39th St, KC, MO 64111; phone (816) 531-5556; categorized as dive bar; tradition since 1933; named “Jimmy’s Jigger” in the 1950s under Jimmy Bowers; current 2026 hours (closed Mondays); currently open. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

2. KCTV5, “KC man fulfills promise to grandfather, reopens historic bar,” July 19, 2024. https://www.kctv5.com/2024/07/19/kc-man-fulfills-promise-grandfather-reopens-historic-bar/ — asserts: corner of 39th & State Line across from KU Med; named “Jimmy’s Jigger” in the 1950s; Jimmy Bowers retired 1991, bar sold, died 1995, ashes spread at site; grandson Timmy Bowers relaunched under original name March 2024 after new owners gave him the opportunity; “study at the J-building” KU Med tradition; adjoining Louisiana kitchen; Cajun food (crawdads, po’ boy). ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰

3. Tony’s Kansas City, “TKC Must Read!!! Tribute To Legendary Kansas City Bar Jimmy’s Jigger!!!,” April 2016. https://www.tonyskansascity.com/2016/04/tkc-must-read-tribute-to-legendary.html — asserts: KU Med “Special Friend” award to Jimmy Bowers (1984); honorary member of medical-school classes; KU Med centennial recognition; long Bowers tenure at 39th & State Line. ↩