New bar set to open on Franklin Street, reflects owners' Chapel Hill history

When Michael Rosenbacher was a student at UNC, he said he saw Franklin Street as a place for all of Chapel Hill to come together. Now, he’s opening a space that he hopes will recreate that feeling.

Max’s Tin Can, located at 201 E. Franklin St., is a new bar located beneath Time-Out in the former Downtime nightclub space.

Rosenbacher chose the name “Max” to honor one of his former golden retrievers, while "Tin Can" is a nod to UNC basketball’s past.

The Indoor Athletic Court, referred to by students as the Tin Can because of the structure’s steel construction, was home to UNC basketball from 1924 to 1938. The Tin Can hosted the UNC Tar Heels’ 1923-1924 men’s basketball season, where they went undefeated and were retroactively named national champions. 

For Rosenbacher, whose dad owned a clothing store on Franklin Street for nearly 40 years, there’s not much of a difference between the University and the town that surrounds it. Rosenbacher grew up in Chapel Hill and graduated from UNC in 1988.

“I guess just the feeling when you're driving to Chapel Hill and see the trees down Franklin Street and Old Well. To me, it's just kind of one,” he said.

The bar’s decor and ambience reflect Rosenbacher’s relationship with UNC. 

Visitors will find the walls adorned with UNC memorabilia, while televisions broadcast the Tar Heels’ various athletic programs and '80s and '90s rock fills the room. On football game days, patrons can enjoy extended operating hours and special food offerings.

Rosenbacher hopes both students and Chapel Hill residents will feel welcome to walk down the stairs to Max’s and grab a drink, largely served in cans to fit the bar’s name.

“I want you — if you're 21 or 51 — I want you to feel comfortable coming in,” he said.

Rather than seeing Max’s Tin Can as a competitor to other bars on Franklin Street, Rosenbacher sees it as another asset in Chapel Hill’s nightlife ecosystem. 

Raquel Winker, a senior at UNC, said she prefers the laid back vibes of bars such as He’s Not Here and Goodfellows where she can relax with her friends.

“It's so small, and people really enjoy going there so they will wait,” she said about the line to enter Goodfellows, which she said could reach wait times over 30 minutes.

Winker said she feels Franklin Street could benefit from more casual bars to spread out crowds that congregate at popular locations.

Max’s Tin Can is one of numerous businesses that have opened along Franklin Street, Executive Director for the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership Jeri Lynn Schulke said.

Schulke said that she feels that the COVID-19 pandemic made students comfortable staying in their personal bubbles and less willing to explore downtown. 

“I think it feels like it's starting to change a little bit, and maybe students are venturing out more,” she said. 

The “100 block” of Franklin Street, consisting of the buildings with addresses from 100-199 — which begins across the street from Max’s Tin Can — has seen increased investment in recent years. 

These investments to turn Chapel Hill from a nine-month economy centered on the University calendar toward a year-round economy could be partly what’s driving business owners back to the 100 block, Schulke said.

As for Rosenbacher, his decision to locate Max’s Tin Can across from McCorkle Place stemmed from a yearlong search that ultimately landed him at 201 E. Franklin St.

“People are starting, I think, to get out more now, and I think just the timing worked out pretty well. It just kind of fell into place for me,” he said.

Max’s Tin Can is scheduled to open later this week. Come Thursday, Rosenbacher said he expects all of the televisions to be airing UNC’s football season opener against the University of Minnesota.

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