ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A city club that for decades has offered nationally touring music acts has closed, its owner said in a Facebook post.
Maingate Night Club, at 17th and Liberty streets, whose owner Dominic Germano for more than two years has sought a partner, has closed for good, Germano said in a Facebook post late Monday.
"It is safe to say our run for nearly 45 years and two generations is now finished. This [is the] Maingate update I’ve been wanting to make for a long time, but it was constantly evolving and too uncertain to know what to announce regarding our future.Maingate night club owner Dominic Germano
"It is safe to say our run for nearly 45 years and two generations is now finished," Germano said.
"This [is the] Maingate update I’ve been wanting to make for a long time, but it was constantly evolving and too uncertain to know what to announce regarding our future.
"To be honest, I never really knew if I was coming or going and everywhere I turned was a landmine for well over decade."
In the post, Germano lamented problems with the state Liquor Control Board regarding noise, "which we miraculously overcame at heavy price that really disrupted and drained our resources."
He also cited "insurance issues that just don’t plague Maingate but plague for the entire club industry, never ending crowd control challenges, several costly state and federal lawsuits some of which still pending."
In addition, Germano said costs of entertainment have risen "sometimes 300-400% higher than before the [coronavirus] pandemic."
All of that has "really put a damper on Maingate being great again or even keeping doors open," he said. "In fact when factoring in the above we have not opened our doors one time this year!"
LCB struggles, partner sought
Maingate struggled with the state Liquor Control Board over noise issues at the club in the 2010s.
Germano closed down Maingate several times since 2016 after noise complaints. He pushed Allentown officials to take over noise-ordinance enforcement because that allows him to “face our complainants.”
Telfair — the corporation that owns Maingate — was “very close to losing our liquor license, which would have put us out of business,” before the city stepped in, Germano said.
"One of the most important things about our history to myself was that no one got killed on our watch. We had 100 close calls and even myself and security got shot on premise keeping the peace which was a real eye opener as to the chaos of the club business.Maingate night club owner Dominic Germano in a Facebook post
Allentown passed a resolution letting it, not the LCB, enforce noise regulations in that area of the city, and exempted some late-night businesses from LCB music regulations.
In 2019, Germano was shot in the arm while helping his security team break up a fight in Maingate's parking lot.
"One of the most important things about our history to myself was that no one got killed on our watch," Germano said in Monday's Facebook post.
"We had 100 close calls and even myself and security got shot on premise keeping the peace which was a real eye opener as to the chaos of the club business.
"I was never so grateful to be shot and, of course, fully recover. I never wanted the loss of life of another on my head and heart."
In August 2023, an online listing showed Germano was seeking $625,000 for a 50% share of Telfair, the corporation that holds Maingate and its three businesses.
Maingate is the highlight of Telfair’s portfolio. The club can hold more than 1,800 people and was “still going strong” after more than 40 years, Germano said at that point.
He called it “one of the most successful, longest-running nightclubs” in the Lehigh Valley.
As late as 2024, Maingate offered nationally touring music acts such as 1990s alternative band Orgy and 1980s punk bands The Dickies and The Queers.
Focus now on restaurant
In his Facebook post, Germano noted that his dad, Michael “Skip” Germano, acquired the property and “turned Mainfate from a beer garden into a full-service nightclub" when he was 50.
"I am out before I am before I am 50," the younger Germano said.
He said, "today my purpose is next door to club at the Fairgrounds hotel" restaurant, where he is owner/chef.
"I love the people, music and positive experiences and memoires much, much more then profit. One of the only reason we lasted nearly 45 years in industry where 80% fail their first year is because we put people before profit!"Maingate night club owner Dominic Germano
"I needed a new way to make living and I find it to be really rewarding to carry my family's legacy there and I think I have knack for kitchen work," Germano said.
"Thankfully a restaurant operation is much more sustainable than that of the club," he said.
He said he's working on the decor on the restaurant's second floor "as bit of Maingate museum to share our rich history there that started in 1980."
He said he likely will "repurpose Maingate and restructure the corner or it might just become a parking lot."
"I am currently using the space, not as a club but as a cat shelter with several cats that make my heart happy.
"I have to say that i am extremely grateful for the generation before me, my mother and father who founded Maingate and laid the foundation for myself.
"I also want to thank the community, clientele and staff and entertainers over the years who supported us and kept us alive. I will miss you all greatly and though I like being in bed by midnight, I miss you all every weekend.
"I love the people, music and positive experiences and memories much, much more than profit," he said.
"One of the only reason we lasted nearly 45 years in industry where 80% fail their first year is because we put people before profit!
"Nonetheless it was time to say Goodbye to that area of the business (for now).
"I hope you continue to support us at the Fairgrounds Hotel. And also to all those still grinding in the industry I see you and salute you because there is no business like the club business."
