- Maxwell's Plum
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Maxwell's Plum was a "flamboyant restaurant and singles bar that, more than any place of its kind, symbolized two social revolutions of the 1960s – sex and food" at 64th and 1st Avenue in Manhattan.[1] Owned by Warner LeRoy, it closed abruptly in July, 1988.[2]
Opened in April 1966, it was known for its "outlandish Art Nouveau decor – kaleidoscopic stained-glass ceilings and walls, Tiffany lamps galore, a menagerie of ceramic animals, etched glass and cascades of crystal – was an immediate hit, and before long it was serving more than 1,200 customers a day. Habitues included such celebrities as Richard Rodgers, Cary Grant, Bill Blass, Barbra Streisand and Warren Beatty. The sprawling bar became a favorite watering hole for the swinging singles set."[3]
A second location opened in 1981 San Francisco, California, at a cost of $7 million,[4] then soon closed. LeRoy built Potomac, a similarly themed 850-seat restaurant in Washington, the largest in the city's history, which also closed soon after opening at a cost of $9 million.[5]
References
- ^ Maxwell's Plum, a 1960s Symbol, Closes
- ^ How Maxwell's Plum lost its way
- ^ Maxwell's Plum, a 1960s Symbol, Closes
- ^ Wayne King (May 13, 1981). "Maxwell's Plum opens in San Francisco". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1981/05/13/garden/maxwell-s-plum-opens-in-san-francisco.html.
- ^ Eric Asimov (February 24, 2001). "Warner Leroy, Restaurant Impresario, Is Dead at 65". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/24/nyregion/warner-leroy-restaurant-impresario-is-dead-at-65.html?pagewanted=2.
Categories:- Defunct restaurants of New York City
- Restaurant stubs
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