After 33 years of serving Kansas City residents, Sheehan’s Irish Imports is closing at the end of the month.  It’s current location is on the border of Brookside and Waldo, at 410 E Gregory.  

Sheehan’s Irish Imports is one of those classic, family owned small businesses.  Daughter Katy Sheehan told me her mother Peggy started selling Irish products as a hobby out of her home in 1985. As the business grew, Pryde’s offered her a space in the corner of their building in Westport. The next move was to a larger, free standing store at 1412 Westport Road, then a final move to the Brookside/Waldo location in 2015. Katy and her sister Molly have operated the store for the past several years.

Like every other retail business, Sheehan’s has been affected by globalism and online sales. Katy says “these days, you can find Irish products everywhere”–for example, the popular Inis perfume they carried can now be ordered through Amazon or found in various other local tourist shops.  Katy and Molly enjoyed running the store, getting to know customers, promoting Irish products and offering excellent client service.  Now it’s time for a new adventure, as Katy says one of her goals in retirement is to visit every U.S. national park.

From now until closing June 30, 2018, everything on the store is on sale — 40% off.  You can browse through Irish CDs, religious items, baby clothes, keychains, jewelry, hats, caps and of course, warm Irish sweaters (this winter, you’ll appreciate that bargain sweater bought on a 90 degree day!). Thanks to the Sheehan family for their decades of serving KC residents!  And as a final note, Katy told me KC Needlepoint is moving from 105 E Gregory into this space.