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."[1]
A second location opened in 1981 San Francisco, California, at a cost of $7 million,[3] 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.[4]