By nullhappy customer, now sad

November 13, 2009 10:56 PM | Link to this

I am very sorry that max and erma’s closed. I always enjoyed celebrating birthdays with my friends there. My favorite waitress was Becky, but I always got great service no matter who waited on me. My prayers are for those who lost their job to get an even better job. I had no idea the last time I ate there would be the last time. The place holds a lot of wonderful memories. I thought the cookies were the best and it was so nice they offered a free desert for people’s birthdays. Plus I use to see a clown that would come around to the table and make baloons for the kids. That’s what made Max and Erma’s so great.

By Tom

November 13, 2009 6:23 PM | Link to this

The place was closed on Tuesday. The media sure has been slow making the big announcement. I never ate there, I did hear the meals were good.

By darren

November 13, 2009 7:17 AM | Link to this

Wow, another Dayton institution falling by the wayside, I know this was a chain restaurant, but one of the first and it had been there for years, used to be a great place. Haven’t been in a Max & Erma’s since moving from the area over 25 years ago, but it makes me sad to see yet another older establishment close up shop, seems that everybody always wants to run off to the shiny new model and leave the old places to rot……Sad really.

By too bad

November 12, 2009 8:38 PM | Link to this

A lot of people saying they went there 20 years ago. I guess they couldn’t keep it open on memories.

By Great memories

November 12, 2009 8:11 PM | Link to this

I remember going there every Fri & Sat evening during college and calling the girls with the phone/table # above the tables and then going upstairs to dance with them! Great memories!

By kelly

November 12, 2009 8:03 PM | Link to this

I was the GM of that restaurant for 7 years and it was one of the best times I ever had. The staff was fantastic. Then they made a bunch of changes and M & E wasnt the same. It’s sad to see it go away. To all the people that worked for me and the community that we supported and you all supported our location thank you. I never got to tell anyone that until now. Thank you

By Wont Miss It

November 12, 2009 5:35 PM | Link to this

eBruce, a D&B would be perfect for the area. Matthew, the SAME thing happened to me. We went in, waited and waited and waited to be seated, no one ever came out, and it was dead! After 8 minutes, we left and NEVER went back. Horrible service will get put you out of business, and it seems like it did.

By oh well

November 12, 2009 5:32 PM | Link to this

I guess we’re down to the last 50 or so places in and around town that serve pretty much the same menu to the same target demographic. I’m sure we’ll manage to get through this somehow…

By mechengr9

November 12, 2009 5:25 PM | Link to this

Back when it opened they had a beer tap with the tap coming from a topless womans’ breast. I had some customers from Germany that just laughed their butts off when they saw it. They even took a picture to show their friends back in Germany.

By Matthew

November 12, 2009 5:22 PM | Link to this

M&E’s is my favorite restaurant chain - I am sorry to see that they filed for bankruptcy. The times I went into the Dayton Mall location the service was generally slow. My wife and I stood in front waiting to be seated one day for over 5 minutes, and no one ever came out - we left and went to the Springboro location where I always seem to get great service.

By Zach

November 12, 2009 5:01 PM | Link to this

worked there the past year on and off. It actually closed early last week like around Tuesday or Wednesday. I was not there because I am at school currently, but from what I heard management called in a meeting on Tuesday or Wednesday and stated they would not be opening up the doors for good, and they didn’t. All of us that worked there knew it was coming, we just didn’t know when. We had always joked about it, but never thought it would happen so quick. It really proves a sign of the times b/c it was the 3rd one opened in the history of the company. Yeah, it was old, and yeah it was kind of slow half the time, because we were really just undersatffed most of the time. There were good and bad times, but that place and those people were like a family to me. We were all like brothers and sisters together and that’s not something I have ever found anywhere else I have worked. We were always there for each other no matter what. I stopped by probably a little less than a month ago to visit for my fall break, and I’m glad I did even though it was dead b/c it now feels like closure since it closed. To my M&E Dayton Mall family who may read this, I love you guys more than you ever knew, thanks for the great times and memories together.

By BT

November 12, 2009 4:29 PM | Link to this

Had my first legal beer there in 1982 when I turned 18. My wife an I ate there a couple weeks ago and it was terrible. The place was dirty and empty. Probably some other chain will go in there.

By Mr. Logic

November 12, 2009 4:24 PM | Link to this

This is news because it informs the community. The oldest restaurant of the Dayton Mall Development era closes, That’s news. The new corporate owners of the D Mall developed former parking space for restaurants Rusty Bucket, Bravos, sea food etc to compete against and they open another M & E location less than two miles south in Springboro were some of their best customers reside. Just connect the dots on these facts.

By Tony D'Elia

November 12, 2009 3:48 PM | Link to this

That location must have been one of the very first M&Es. It’s rare that a franchise lasts that long.

By ebruce

November 12, 2009 3:33 PM | Link to this

Great location…won’t stay empty long. Would love the see a Dave and Busters at the new interchange. Good family entertainment.

By Downhill Slide

November 12, 2009 3:20 PM | Link to this

Another in the long list of retail / service businesses biting the dust now that we’ve allowed all our primary employers with decent-paying jobs to leave town. More emptiness to contend with, along with the vacancies in the shopping plazas and near empty office buildings. When you have decades of no vision for the area, this becomes the beginning of a steady, protracted, downhill slide.

By Pat Mawang

November 12, 2009 3:19 PM | Link to this

The sprinboro location is pretentious and expensive. They act like it’s a privilege for you to give them money. This was my experience with the bar staff.

By theshawn

November 12, 2009 3:11 PM | Link to this

That stinks, I remember that place back in the 70’s with the phones at the tables and the interesting beer tap :) Was one of the places to be. Now tho, the food and service was sometimes slow and inconsistent. Sign of the times.

By Kumar

November 12, 2009 2:50 PM | Link to this

They are having delicious tasting food and they aare having pretty human girls too. And they are having beer!

By freshmeat

November 12, 2009 2:27 PM | Link to this

yeah my parents would take me here back in 1978, there were phones on the tables, some chick called me one time and wanted to marry me, lol, the signs on the restrooms doors were not right either, but the beer tap bust was what brought people into this place back in the late 70’s and 80’s. Oh well I been gone from Dayton for 15 years, this was the spot for me and the bowling alley down the road. sad to see it go :(

By Lea

November 12, 2009 2:25 PM | Link to this

I remember the taps. Thought it was the coolest thing! I will really miss this location. That area is really going down…

By Cathie

November 12, 2009 2:23 PM | Link to this

They had great salads and a great staff. Will miss Kyle and Chris and their great service. Will miss this place alot.

By Ben

November 12, 2009 2:23 PM | Link to this

To This is News?: It’s better than reading about another murder…but you probably complain about that story too. I like that they post these articles - reading about a new opening could help generate revenue for that restaurant, and in turn, the area. If I were planning on going to M&E in the near future (I’m not since I moved out of the area), this story would have saved me the time, gas money and disappointment of going there only to find a sign posted on the window.

By Rachel

November 12, 2009 2:19 PM | Link to this

To This is News - This isn’t a front page item. This is in the “Taste: Dayton food and Restaurants” blog. So openings and closings would be relevant news items in that context, no? If you don’t want to read about openings and closings, quit reading this blog.

By tw

November 12, 2009 2:15 PM | Link to this

We just are at the Springboro store last week and my family vowed to never go to there again. The food was awful, service was slow. They were out of baked potaties and it was 5pm. No wonder they are closing down. Horrible dining experience for %50.oo

By tw

November 12, 2009 2:14 PM | Link to this

We just are at the Springboro store last week and my family vowed to never go to there again. The food was awful, service was slow. They were out of baked potaties and it was 5pm. No wonder they are closing down. Horrible dining experience for %50.oo

By tbill

November 12, 2009 1:45 PM | Link to this

“This is news?”: Doing this sort of “reporting” keeps Mr. Fisher busy. This is opening, this is closing, etc. ad nauseum. Want real news? Look elsewhere. If you have a good product, you’ll have customers. Period.

By McRib

November 12, 2009 1:28 PM | Link to this

I remember using the phones to call pretty girls! Plus, I remember the original bar. It had a huge torso of a Viking like woman where the taps were her busts. Funny but it didn’t last long. Good food.

By Pat

November 12, 2009 1:10 PM | Link to this

I remember eating Sunday breakfasts in the late 70’s. My brother and I, 8 and 10, would run from table to table playing with the phones. Sad to see it go, but I don’t eat out much anymore either.

By wallyp

November 12, 2009 12:52 PM | Link to this

To This is News? What more than what was reported did you expect from the article when you saw the headline? If you didn’t think it would be news, why did you spend your time reading it. And why do you think that because you don’t think it is newsworthy nobody else would?

By Rob

November 12, 2009 12:43 PM | Link to this

The Phones!!! I got thrown out of there as a disrespectful teen way back in the day. Good memories…thanks! I guess time marches on and now I grump at those disrespectful teenagers.

By Mike

November 12, 2009 12:41 PM | Link to this

I believe this was the oldest location in Dayton. Saw a post on another site saying they thought this was the 3rd oldest M&E location; heard they also shut down the 2nd location in Columbus.

By Chris

November 12, 2009 12:16 PM | Link to this

That writing was on the wall as soon as the one in Boro opened. I am surprised it’s been open this long. Plus all M&E’s are overpriced now too, so not surprised they filed Chap 13.

By restauranteurette

November 12, 2009 12:12 PM | Link to this

Yes I remember the telephones - nearly 35 years ago! Hope the Logan’s Roadhouse that’s going in the old Bravo building will hire all the staff that just lost their jobs at this M&E’s.

By OldTimer

November 12, 2009 12:05 PM | Link to this

That’s sad. I remember going there when they had the telephones on the tables and you could call strangers and talk. It was fun as a teenager. This was one of the first places my spouse and I ate at when we were dating. Sad to see this location close. Anyone else remember the telephones?

By Diner

November 12, 2009 11:42 AM | Link to this

Had any of you been to this location recently? I was there 2 weeks ago and had a horrible dining experience. The interior looked run-down, like no one cared any more. The staff in general looked miserable and like they would rather be anywhere else. The food was just ok (I used to think they had pretty good food for a chain). Have to wonder if they didn’t know then what was going to happen.

By steve

November 12, 2009 11:35 AM | Link to this

Is this news: What should the Taste: Dayton food and restaurants section report on?

By This is news?

November 12, 2009 11:26 AM | Link to this

Why does DDN insist on “reporting” on every restaurant opening or closing in Dayton? They treat every one like it’s the biggest thing since the coming of Christ. (sorry, Muslims, not trying to leave you out) Is this all the obese populous of the Miami Valley care about? oh, wait, I just answered my own question.

By Bryan

November 12, 2009 11:23 AM | Link to this

Sad, Great location, good food, always had a crowd. Doesn’t make sense.

By Miss It

November 12, 2009 11:21 AM | Link to this

I liked this one better than Springboro. It had a great feeling inside, plus the age of the stuff inside u dont get at the cookie cutter one in SB. Like the big loft & staircase.

By Paul

November 12, 2009 11:11 AM | Link to this

They had $1 pints on Mondays and a great happy hour…plus fantastic tortilla soup..that’s a shame.

By Rob

November 12, 2009 11:11 AM | Link to this

Makes sense when they’ve got that new location just 4 miles south in Springboro.

By Brian

November 12, 2009 11:05 AM | Link to this

How sad! They have a great happy hour. I hope the other locations stay open.