05/11/2022
Announcement:
After an incredible two years of serving the Tallahassee community, we have come to the final chapter for Max’s Steaks Shakes and Fries. Today, we are announcing the closing of our doors on Sunday May 28th, 2022.
This decision, to cease operating the business, is one that truly comes with a heavy heart. As many of you have seen firsthand, Max’s has been blessed with success from the get-go, due largely from our social media presence, and we will forever be grateful for your love and support. Max’s ownership was led to this decision strictly by a better industry opportunity. In a perfect world, both situations could coexist. Unfortunately, we do not live in a perfect world.
Those of you who know our humble beginnings and the bumpy road we took to get to this point, know that it hasn’t always been easy on us. Without everyone’s support and understanding early on, it’s hard to say if we would have even been capable to make it this far. Once again, from everyone at Max’s, we wholeheartedly thank everyone for an incredible two years of business.
We will continue business as usual until the 28th and will post any further updates.
A message from Max:
Dearest friends, family, cheesesteak lovers, this is something that I am finding nearly impossible to put into words. This restaurant has been my whole life for two years. I don’t have any kids yet, but I feel that the attachment I’ve fostered with this restaurant and community is as close as it gets. I feel that I owe it to you, and myself, to explain how I got here and where I’m going.
It has always been a dream of mine to start my own restaurant. When I graduated from FSU in the spring of 2020, the outlook was uncertain and bleak. Covid was at its peak, the world was on lockdown, and businesses were dropping like flies. However, I was determined to pursue my dream. With Fly By Philly’s, I put everything on the line and gave it my all. We all know how that ended, I digress. At that point, my living room was full of restaurant equipment, I had no money, and landlords scoffed at the idea of leasing a commercial space to a 22-year-old. However, I wouldn’t give up. Before I knew it, I was swept up by the rallying support of the community. I was motivated to see it through and kept pushing. Finally, everything came together and I next thing I knew I was holding the keys to what would become Max’s. Many long days and late nights of hard work later and we opened on August 22nd. I scraped together every ounce of effort and every penny I had to make it happen. I’ll never forget opening that day and seeing a long line of hungry excited people wrapped around the building. From then, we only got busier and busier every day.
I have to say, absolutely none of this would have been possible without my amazing team. What started out with just a few of my industry friends and community members who dropped by a resume, turned into a tight knit family of great people. There is no greater feeling for a boss than to see your employees thrive. I’ve gotten to witness people purchase their first car, move into their first apartment, graduate college and move into their careers. Most of my staff members have been students and of course, I know that this is just their college job. Sometimes it’s hard to see great people leave our team, but watching my employees grow as individuals and move on and up in the world is just priceless. I will always feel immensely grateful for playing this small role in their lives, and at the least, hope that I have positively influenced them in some way.
In all, owning and operating Max’s has been a dream come true. These past two years have presented some of the best times and some of the most difficult times of my life. I have learned so much. Chatting and interacting with customers, creating new sandwiches of the month, working with my awesome team, and so many more memories will forever live near and dear to me. Believe me, making this decision is definitely one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. It’s extremely difficult to move on from this but I know it’s the right decision for my career as a chef and for my family. Despite offers, I’ve decided not to sell the business itself, so that I may protect the intellectual capital and who knows, reopen Max’s down the line.
I have been offered a position as the executive chef at one of the best fine dining restaurants in Tallahassee. I feel that here, I will be able to explore my full culinary potential and enjoy a more stable work-life balance. Furthermore, on that note, I have recently been engaged to my beautiful fiancé Shelby, which of course I am overjoyed about. I look forward to a fruitful career doing what I love and starting a beautiful family and life with Shelby and helping to support her on her path to becoming a physician. If you’d like to follow my journey, feel free to follow me on social media Max Winger.
To our diehard fans reading this, I love you all and I know this is most difficult, but please down your pitchforks. I hope you understand that I am making this decision because I believe it’s in the best interest of my family and myself.
Just know deep down, I will always be the Cheese Whiz Guy.
--Max
