KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Westport continues to change with the confirmation from neighboring businesses that longtime event venue, Californos, has closed.
The doors were locked to Californos Friday despite their website and Facebook page saying the business was open.
"Very shocking this morning, my daughter is in the truck crying right now,” Melanie Rogers, whose daughter is set to have her wedding at Californos in October said.
Growing up, many girls dream of their perfect wedding day. Four months before her big day, Jaqueline Rogers is scrambling to find a new place to hold her wedding.
Her mother, Melanie, was angry as she stood outside the business.
"The doors are locked, they are gone. We just sent out invitations, it was over $200 in invitations. We just started sending them out, stating that Californos is where the guests are to come,” Rogers said.
Rogers said they paid a $1,200 deposit to the business and have not heard from them in months.
When you call Californos, the recording says it is no longer a working number.
Californos has been in the news a lot recently. Last year, the city health department shut it down for weeks after 50 people became ill after eating there.
In 2017, a gunman shot and killed an off duty officer inside the building.
Along with Californos' apparent closure, there are other changes in Westport.
"Harpos has been here but everything else has switched out of the last 20 years so much,” Westport patron Josh Best said.
Others in the area agreed that they have been disappointed with the constant change.
"I’ve actually been to that donut shop that use to be there. It sucks to see it has closed down, I wanted to take my little one there to tell you the truth,” Tristan Miller said.
Sailor Jack’s closed and McCoy's Public House will also be closing soon. Tivoli Cinemas closed last month.
"I kind of want to see it balance out opposed to just places where you drink a lot. These Indian places, I love them, but I don’t want to just see a whole bunch of people down here drinking. That's not my cup of tea,” Miller said.
While changes are happening all around Westport, Rogers is just focused on the one.
"I hope and pray we can find a wedding venue at this point, I would like for my daughter to have the day that she wants so bad,” she said.
41 Action News emailed and called Californos. We have not received a response.
