Why it matters
Max's Kansas City was a restaurant and nightclub at 213 Park Avenue South, opened by Mickey Ruskin in December 1965. Its history includes distinct ownership eras, separated by a 1974 closure and 1975 reopening, before the original address's final closure in 1981. The surviving Max's Kansas City Project carries forward Ruskin's support for artists, while recordings preserve the venue's musical life. This record concerns the original Manhattan room, not later revivals or installations using the name.
