For some people, a night out isn’t complete unless it involves theme nights, dancing, drink specials, karaoke or some other excuse to dress up and drink up. Everyone else just wants to get away from those people, sit down, and have a gimmick-free drink with some good friends. These people go to the neighborhood bar. It’s comfortable but lively; people don’t have to dress up, and if there’s a jukebox, it’s always incredible.
No one in Eugene does the neighborhood bar quite like Max’s Tavern, which has recently reopened after five months of renovation. The tavern had to shut down near the beginning of last summer after seepage from a corroded drainage system created a 6.5-foot deep bog of sludge under the floor. The load-bearing wall between Max’s and Little’s Market had to be stabilized, the drainage system replaced and nearly everything touching the floor had to be torn out.
For Ward Fairbairn, the owner of Max’s since 1993, the renovation took “too damn long,” and I’m sure that many of the regular patrons agree. After all, there isn’t really anything like it in town. The bar’s comfortable charm and classic decor has always been more traditional than other bars in the Eugene area, with it’s elaborate bar cabinetry and high-backed wooden benches. The decor is still being renovated and the bar wall is mismatched plywood, but Fairbairn said that Max’s will be looking like it’s old self again in time for Saint Patrick’s Day.
Though the look of the place is
fairly consistent with the old Max’s, a few subtle changes have been made. The bar has been rebuilt and expanded, two of the booths have been restructured to accommodate larger groups and a second window table has been installed. Also, Fairbairn has constructed several tables with inlayed marble chessboards, and hopes to eventually host chess and cribbage tournaments in the bar. Patrons will be able to check out pieces with photo identification at the bar.
Max’s is the oldest bar in Eugene, dating back to 1933, that is still in its original location. It was originally named Robinson’s after the original owner, Max Robinson, but was referred to as Max’s by most regular patrons. The name was officially changed after Robinson passed away. The bar has since been owned by five different people, the most recent being Fairbairn and his wife Kimberley Fairbairn.
“We had come up from San Diego to buy a house, and Ward stopped in to have a beer,” said Mrs. Fairbairn. “The owner at the time told us that we shouldn’t buy a house, we should buy the bar.”
The bar features 11 taps, with three domestics, Guinness and seven microbrews. Fairbairn is working on a menu for the bar so that they can start serving liquor by spring.
Those sophisticated enough to appreciate the charms of a neighborhood pub can’t afford to miss Max’s Tavern.

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