Maxwell's in New Jersey is closing

No idea if this is legit (BrooklynVegan comments):

I heard about this 2 months ago. I also heard they are closing their doors BUT reopening in downtown Jersey City not hoboken. Spoke to a sound engineer there 2 weeks ago who said the same thing.

Well, I heard about this 3 months again. Talked to the foh manager 4 weeks ago and said the would be reopening at the Exchange Place stop on the Path train.

(like, down the street from wfmu?)

wow! if true.

there had been murmurs about the shutdown for quite sometime
and there's a performance space opening down from FMU, yes. I don't think it's Maxwell's 2 tho. Gonna be very small.

Glad I saw the Feelies there a few times in recent years...and The Trypes open for YLT at a Hanukah show. Used to always forget how far it was from the Path. Would come out from brooklyn and think "we'll just get off the path and walk down the street". Remember one really really cold night where I felt really bad for forgetting that. Drove the last few times and always managed to find parking. Saw some other random shows over the years, The Lyres, Trans-Am...

There were murmurs about reopening in Jersey City because it was one of the options they were considering- along with closing for good or just staying open. The employees have been wondering which it would be for about 3 months now and they said it was actually a relief to know for sure so they can finally plan for the future.

So no reopening basically.

i would give a lot for a decent club to open in jersey city.

No Hanukah show this year confirmed- straight from Ira last night.

ah, I was hoping for either the Bell House or, uh, Loews Jersey.

man what is going on with that Loews Jersey -- somehow it hasn't been torn down yet, but I look at the calendar and there's like barely anything going on for months at a time. Shame.

I think Jersey City and Hoboken venues face a tough problem -- they can't rely primarily on a PATH train crowd coming from NYC with so many NYC entertainment options to compete with, but at the same time Jersey City and Hoboken aren't the ideal locations to draw people from elsewhere in Jersey since parking is scarce. E.g. with that Loews -- PATH train is pretty much your only option getting there afaik, unless there have been massive new parking decks built or something.

Well, don't forget buses.

I think in Maxwells case for driving it's either garage or you're parking in the PERMIT ONLY or RESIDENTIAL PERMIT ONLY spots that surround the place for at least 3-4 blocks in any direction. If you park in one of those spots you have a 4 hour window then if caught you get booted and or ticketed.

It is indeed almost a mile walk from PATH and feels much longer if you aren't familiar with the town.

Loews is a beautiful theatre but Journal Square is a sketchy and otherwise boring area. The better restaurants and places like Barcade are all closer to the water at the Grove St PATH stop.

listening to this awesome maxwell's dream syndicate gig from 83 http://archive.org/details/ds1983-02-12.flac16

ah, I was hoping for either the Bell House or, uh, Loews Jersey.

― ballin' from Maine to Mexico (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, June 4, 2013 10:21 AM (1 hour ago)

Plenty of time for them to change their mind I presume, but I'd say unlikely as I perceived the proximity of their home to Maxwells is a huge factor in the incentive for doing 8 late shows in a row.

They could, y'know, do one show. Times change.

they should move it to the site of the temple in Jerusalem

Or a temple in Short Hills.

Hmm one show would be nice but it wouldn't have the same magic...

Who's playing tonight? Who's playing tomorrow? What charity will this benefit? Who are the special guests will jump on stage despite the official bill?

Plus the "8 nights of Hanukah" theme is the basis and the multiple charities is the motivation.

dirty secret: bus from Port Authority stops right across from the place.

yup I've done that bus ride. it goes pretty quick.

although one night after we saw New Pornographers at Maxwell's we stayed out drinking after the show and missed the last PATH train home and then that bus failed to come. twice. so we went back to our friends' apartment a couple blocks from Maxwell's and slept there and I went back to work the next day in my same clothes. the end.

"last PATH train"?

There is a night schedule that is less frequent and resumes normal service for morning rush... unless this was when service was still recovering from Sandy?

It is indeed almost a mile walk from PATH and feels much longer if you aren't familiar with the town.

I never minded the walk the two times I went to Maxwell's to see Electric Six.

It's a great space, sad to see it go, but really glad to know I've been there.

xpost nah you're right I guess it wasn't the "last" train but we stayed later than we planned and the next one wasn't for an hour or something

I didn't think the walk from PATH was all that bad either. except in the winter.

i've never minded the walk.

Whenever I go via PATH I dash down Hudson Street in 20 mins so I don't hafta see all that horrible new shit on Washington.

Also the food only got good there in the last 5-10 years.

path is about every half hour on the late late night blitz

I live on Washington :( I like my place but yearn for a slightly more residential vibe in the next spot. I want to hear less drunk yelling all night from the street.

from steve fallon on facebook
I am on hear to say thank you to Todd Abramson, Jackie and Dave Post, and Steve Shelly for keeping alive what I loved so much.I left a long time ago, it was their love for Maxwell's that kept the battle going, so to them we should all tip our hats.
Unfortunately, I know oh too well the struggles that Todd and company had to bare on a daily basis. I gave up for these reasons.Todd stayed and fought a hard battle.
The city of Hoboken fueled by greed has let many parts of this once great town go to the wayside, preservation is not in their vocabulary.
This is not the town we all came to years ago, and some may say things change but when will someone say,we have made enough changes we need to nurture what made us good. It is too late for this kind of thought for maxwell's, but I hope all in the future when it comes time to cast your vote it is for the candidate who has your best interest at hand.We will all miss Maxwell's.Thank you all for your kind words and appreciation and support throughout the years, Maxwell's was my Home.
xoxoxo steve fallon

This is way sadder than the Pasta Frenzy years of 1996-1998, because it's obvious there's not going to be any indie-rock cavalry to save it this time. Even without the white-hatters, Hoboken's a tough place to keep a business going, especially a non-meat-market bar. It was well on its way to gentrification even by the mid-1980s, when I started going to Maxwell's and Pier Platters. Todd seems almost relieved to be done with it, from what I've read in interviews. I suppose we should be glad it lasted for three decades.

I never minded the walk from the PATH or the parking lots. It was always worth it when I got there.

So what's left in NJ? I count Asbury Lanes, the Starland Ballroom, the Brighton Bar and the nu-Court Tavern. None of these can replace a one-of-a-kind space like Maxwell's, let alone City Gardens or the 1980s/1990s Court. The phrase "end of an era" most certainly applies here.

Made that walk from the PATH train many times and never minded it either.

OK OK enough, I'm a wimp. Look, it was REALLY REALLY cold that one time and we were underdressed.

I never minded it either, just saying that enough average concertgoers do mind it that it's a drawback for the venue, especially when there's also no parking

if anything I kind of liked the walk as part of the experience -- it's a perfect straight walk for intense talking or thinking

And for a non-resident, I'm sure the park around the corner on Hudson provides a little treat of a view during the visit.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/hoboken-bar-maxwell-close-july-article-1.1362410
huh, so i guess he IS talking publicly about moving to JC. cool.

the space next to the grove street stop is billed as a bar and pizza place, would love it if they're cabaret licensed.

Hey, just realized I'm working the door for that Mountain Goats show tomorrow! That's kind of a pick-me-up

Saw the Pretty Things there as a young CMJ fest attendant, will never forget it.

love this vintage poster
http://25.media.tumblr.com/a154810e9f476bc2ac3e152fb193cdad/tumblr_mnu4573NM91rxbnrlo1_500.jpg

here's another rendering of NJ.

http://thethingonthedoorstep.be/Fotoupload/WKGB.jpg

I blame this all on Kim Kardashian.

hasn't Asbury Lanes been sold, and about to be turned into something awful?

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/970599_4688005529754_2027814688_n.jpg

I think I was at that Big Black/"Dinasaur" show? I know I saw Dinosaur there pre-Jr, when Lou B had braces on his teeth. Very possibly that Chills show too...

I have a printout somewhere in the archives of most shows I saw '85-95.

New York Times reporter was interviewing Todd on Wednesday during the Mountain Goats set.

I'm thinking a lot of familiar/famous faces will show up in the last weeks.

http://ny.eater.com/archives/2013/06/sietsemas_fond_farewell_to_nightlife_legend_maxwells.php

Seem to remember going out there once for a secret or last minute Replacements show- maybe somebody else on drums other than Chris? - but ultimately being denied at the door because the place was already full.

There were records i had only read about at 14 years old that i got to hear for the first time on the Maxwell's jukebox... It was all very, very good.

Todd was indeed booking Bell House soon after Maxwells closed but hasn't for a long while iirc.

He was booking both simultaneously for a time, I am certain of that. But you're right, he hasn't been the booker at Bell House in years.

I believe the story that it was due to parking and changing demographics. Parking in Hoboken for a non-resident is extremely painful and its only gotten worse since Maxwells closed. Also its no longer a cheap place to live for musicians and artists.