Maxwell Social Club in Tribeca at war with neighbors over complaints
A celebrity magnet Tribeca social club claims a former Merck exec and other neighbors are scheming to get it shut down by filing “baseless” complaints against it. Maxwell Social Club — where it costs $12K to join and stars such as Reese Witherspoon, Brooklyn Beckham, David Letterman, Blake Lively and Julia Fox have gone to unwind — alleges in a new lawsuit that party-pooping neighbors have lodged dozens of complaints with the city for years because they can’t tolerate the occasional noise.
Owners Kyle Chaning-Pearce and David Litwak claim the alleged campaign has already cost them millions of dollars in fines, legal fees and lost business, according to court documents. Former Merck executive vice president Roger Perlmutter and his wife Joan Kreiss have been warring with their new neighbor since it opened in 2023, ratting them out to the city and the co-op board, the suit contends. But the co-op board — where Perlmutter serves as a member — has been refusing to approve repair requests made by the club for 17 months, according to court papers.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights tensions between upscale nightlife venues and residential co-ops over noise, permits and community standards.