So… What’s REALLY Going On Maxwell’s?

Here’s a little known fact: EVERY bar is for sale…

For the right price, any bar owner would consider the option of selling his or her business—because at the end of the day, it’s primarily a business decision.

So when we saw report after report after report about Hoboken’s renowned Maxwell’s location being on the selling block, we decided to actually speak with the bar owners.

“We haven’t made any decision to sell,” says Pete Carr, current operating partner of the establishment.

Nevertheless, the business IS on the market—and has been since mid-January.

“We were contacted,” says Carr, “and the numbers were interesting. So we decided to test the waters, and see if there were any potential opportunities with the right investors.”

As for the immediate future of Maxwell’s, Carr says, “We’re really engaged in this place right now, bringing a focus to the music aspect.”

Maxwell’s had long served as the load-bearing pillar in Hoboken’s music community, but its 2013 closure put the live music scene well out of whack.

Nevertheless, after initially going in a different direction, the business reaffirmed its commitment to bringing quality live music to the Mile Square City—reinstalling a stage in the back room that once played host to bands like Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Bruce Springsteen, The Pogues, The Feelies, Red Hot Chili Peppers, R.E.M., and Yo La Tengo.

With the new stage coming back in late 2014, a musical renaissance of sorts has taken place in that room, with contemporary local musicians intermingling with the stalwart veterans of Hoboken’s venerable independent music scene. The new incarnation of Maxwell’s has also stretched beyond its historical comfort zone to garner a broader audience, hosting everything from sold-out country music shows, blues shows, quality cover bands and an eclectic variety of touring and local talent.

Chris Capaci/Capacity Images photo

And that’s the plan, for the foreseeable future.

“We’re going to continue to operate,” says Carr.

With a full event calendar through the month of April and beyond, there’s no reason to think otherwise. But if you’re truly interested in a “Unique Opportunity to Own a Nationally Recognized Turnkey Bar/Restaurant” with “state-of-the-art live music facilities,” all this could be yours, if the price is right.