Beacon building sold; last day is April 21
Richie Kaplan, the proprietor of Max’s on Main, has sold the building that hosts what he contends is “Beacon’s oldest bar.”
Kaplan plans to close Max’s, at 246 Main St., on April 21. The well-worn establishment’s future is unclear; a former restaurant and bar owner from Brooklyn identified as the buyer did not immediately respond to an email or text asking about plans for the 1870 building.
Regardless, Kaplan, 71, said it’s time for a change. Day and night, he scrambles with a stooped gait to bus tables and tend to customers. Soon, he will take down the whimsical wall decorations and babysit his grandchildren.
“I hear Foreigner needs a drummer,” he said, with a laugh.
A wooden phone booth sits in the lobby for the upstairs apartments. The tenants must leave by mid-June, according to one resident. Only six people occupy the 20 rooms, she said, adding that some pay $500 a month.
Setting up the gear for a gig at Max’s, Steve Mittelstadt said he was disappointed to hear the building has been sold. “It’s a great place to come in, watch football and see people you know, but gentrification is unavoidable,” he said.
“This is one of the last remaining community-based, family run gathering spots, and it’s going to be hard to replace,” he said. “A lot of people will sorely miss it, but we can only hope that whoever comes in keeps it the same.”
During some downtime just before midnight on April 6, Kaplan and Shirley Hot, the owner of Pandorica restaurant, another mainstay on Main Street, reminisced about Joe’s Irish Pub (now Momo Valley) and the crime that once plagued the city.
“We stayed open until 4 a.m. — we were crazy,” said Kaplan, referring to his brother and partner, Harvey, who died last year. Max’s, named for their father, opened in 2006. “There was an army of drug dealers; we escorted people to their cars at night.”
Hot, who blames her hearing loss on the bands at Joe’s Irish Pub, remembers when “no one wanted Beacon. It was a depressed city and now, 25 years later, we can’t afford to stay. There’s been so many changes and so much turnover on Main Street, it’s incredible.”
Max’s on Main, at 246 Main St., is open through April 21 from noon to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, noon to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. on Sunday. See maxsonmain.com or call 845-838-6297.
Really sorry to see Max’s leaving. We will miss the food and the comfort of a great neighborhood blue-collar place to unwind. Wishing you the best, Richie.
The Kaplan brothers were great at bringing old and new Beacon together and making everybody feel right at home. They will indeed be missed by many.
The owner of another Main Street business, Pandorica, was quoted as saying that she remembered when “no one wanted Bea-con. It was a depressed city, and now, 25 years later, we can’t afford to stay.”
In fact, in an era of generally depressed urban areas, Beacon did better than most small cities, and residents largely voted with their feet by staying. The Beacon Historical Society has a 1986 shopping guide map of Main Street that illustrates the strength of the Main Street economy even when “no one wanted Beacon.”
Best of luck to Richie! Max’s has been a Beacon treasure and we hope the new management will honor the love people have for Richie and Max’s. Hoping the residents find decent housing nearby. Beacon is a gem.
I spent a lot of time at Max’s from 2004-13, back when Jesse was tending bar on Saturdays. The burgers were great. I loved it when they periodically featured the lamb burger. I loved all the memorabilia in the place, including the picture of the tavern’s namesake in a boxing pose. Max’s was one of the businesses that helped revive Beacon’s Main Street. I moved away so I’m just learning that Harvey died. Very sad news. My condolences to the family.
Thanks for your kind words, Monica. Hope all is well!
I visited Max’s for the first time in January 2023 and, while reading the restaurant’s history from the back of the menu, we met Harvey! Ever since, it became one of our favorite places. The family is warm and wonderful, the food always great, the bartenders friendly and overall place is just plain awesome. We will miss you for sure!