Maxims 22 to Open on Saturday

By Christina Georgiou

Easton's newest restaurant will be a French-themed bistro and brasserie.

Maxim's 22 plans to open on Saturday, said co-owner Josh Palmer after being granted sign, lighting and awning approvals at a Historic District Commission meeting on Monday.

It will be the first business to open at the Pomeroy Building, located at 322 Northampton St., the structure was recently redeveloped into apartments upstairs, with commercial space on the first floor.

The public has the chance to get a sneak peek at the new restaurant this evening too, as Maxim's will hold a happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. this evening for drinks only, Palmer said.

The rest of the week will be spent bringing staff up to speed with "mock service" training before the official full-scale opening on Saturday, Palmer said.

On the menu will be "authentic French cuisine", along with more traditional pub fare, such as burgers.

Hours, according to the restaurant's not-quite-completed website, will be Tuesday through Saturday, from 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., with Sunday brunch served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

While the Historic District Commission approved Maxim's requests, the restaurant may still have to appear before the zoning hearing board next month to request a variance for sign lettering to appear on the Bank Street side of the building, said Cindy Cawley, head of the city's codes department.

Businesses are allowed one sign and that must be under 20 square feet. It was unclear Monday evening if

Maxim's lettering will exceed that limitation.

Additionally, the second "sign" on the east side of the structure will also likely need to be considered by the zoning hearing board as well at their November meeting.

"It's a zoning issue," Cawley said. "You're allowed one sign, and it needs to be limited to 20 square feet."

Palmer asked if there was some way the variance might be expedited, but Cawley said that isn't possible, given the deadline for agenda items for this month's meeting has already passed.

Commission members suggested the restaurant could put up the front signage and if approved, the lettering on the Bank Street side could be applied later.

"I need the dimensions of the letters," Cawley said, adding that if the building is considered to be a corner lot, the second sign might not need the variance, though one will still be necessary if the lettering totals more than the 20 square foot limit. "I still need to get (if it's a) corner lot figured out."

Maxim's 22's website can be viewed at www.maxims22.com