Restaurant

MAXFIELD’S RESTAURANT – FROM OLD BEGINNINGS TO A NEW ENDING

In today’s fast paced world, not many businesses survive sixty years.  However, that is exactly what Maxfield’s Restaurant, located just north of Edmore, has done.  In April, Maxfield’s Restaurant turned 60 years old.  Maxfield’s opened in 1959, the same year Eisenhower was president, Alaska and Hawaii became the 49^th and 50^th states, the average cost of a new house was $12,500 and gas was just $0.25 per gallon.  Brother and sister team, Tony (Becki) Maxfield and Shari (Chris) Maxfield-Agle, ages 60 and 62, have been there literally from the start.  In its third generation of management, Maxfield’s Restaurant holds the oldest continuous beer, wine, and spirits license in Montcalm County.

The 500-seat restaurant hasn’t always been the size it is today.  The small Wyman Tavern – known for selling sardines, pickled bologna, potato chips, and card playing – was purchased from the late Dale and Nina “Ginny” Hutson by Clyde, Gladys, Glen and Carol Maxfield.  Together they placed the first chicken dinner on the Maxfield’s Menu.  Through seventeen additions and transformations, the entire Maxfield Family has worked tirelessly to keep traditions alive (broasted chicken is still the #1 seller on the menu), to wow guests, and create the best family home-cooked food around.  Gone are the white tablecloths that adorned the tables in decades past, but Maxfield’s has remained a special location for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, date nights, casual get togethers, and family dinners.  Many guests and their families have been coming to Maxfield’s from the very early years.  Some have even brought the entire family, in excess of forty people, to every Easter, Mother’s Day, and Thanksgiving for over thirty years.

On Sunday, September 29^th, 2019, Maxfield’s will be saying farewell and closing its doors.  It will be a day filled with unfathomable emotions, a true ending of an era.  As time continues to speed up, family members are all ready to take a step back and slow down.  Tony, Becki, Shari, and Chris’s children are now adults and grandkids have taken the spotlight.

Glen, age 84, and spouse Julie are going to miss reminiscing and visiting with guests on a regular basis.

Anyone who has ever set foot inside Maxfield’s has seen the artwork by Carol Maxfield, age 83, whose paintings and needlework adorn the walls inside Maxfield’s Restaurant.  When Carol is not in the kitchen cooking, you can find her at home baking or painting.  Paintings inside the building are rotated out for holidays and seasons, and new paintings are often featured.  For these final few weeks, Carol’s full collection will be on display for everyone to enjoy.

Tony and Shari sat down recently with employees to discuss the closure.  “Many employees have been with us for decades.  We have watched some go through weddings, having kids, retiring, and even the loss of spouses,” Shari stated.  “It was an emotional meeting – our employees are part of our family.”

Maxfield’s Restaurant would like to invite you to come dine with them during their last days.  Reservations are appreciated and may be made by calling 800-550-5630.  Hours and information can also be found on www.maxfields.info and social media platforms.

The Maxfield Family is inviting all current and past employees to join them for a special reunion on Saturday, October 5^th.  Details will be posted on www.maxfields.info and on Maxfield’s Restaurant Facebook page as details are finalized.

Lastly, the Maxfield Family would like to say thank you.  It has been an honor to be a part of so many special memories over these last 60 years.