For decades, Kickstart has been a laid-back neighborhood staple in Millington, a bar where locals gather for shuffleboard tournaments, karaoke nights, cold beer and conversation.

Now, the longtime dive bar has a new owner who’s bringing some Midtown vibes with him: Louis Connelly, the man behind the popular Louis Connelly’s Bar for Fun Times and Friendship.

Connelly officially took over Kickstart in March. But the story of how it all came together started, as so many good stories do, over karaoke.

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