Hidden Gems: Meet Maxim Popoff of Farewell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maxim Popoff.

Hi Maxim, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
We started Farewell as a DIY venue in 2018 for local and touring musicians to have a donation-based place to play. The building itself was more or less an abandoned warehouse, but we’d host dozens, if not over 100 bands annually, and raise money from cheap beer and door to keep touring bands on the road. We constantly worked to repair and upgrade the main space, additional studio spaces, and the general infrastructure to foster more folks over the years. During the beginning of the pandemic, we had started joking about opening a real bar, which we had absolutely 0 experience in, and then we committed to the bit. In April 2022, we officially opened as a DIY bar/coffee shop with a shiny bonafide liquor license. It allowed us to employ friends and folks in the community, give them some financial stability and ensure that we’d someday somehow be able to have the money needed to buy the building from the guy who owned it.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s been a pretty bumpy road, but all the bumps are punctuated by smooth and tremendously enjoyable moments in the space. We had to replace a collapsed sewer line under Farewell, then weeks later discovered the other half of the building needed replacing too, and somehow there were beer bottles from the 1990s blocking the bathroom sink from draining. Also, during month three of Covid, the city demanded we upgrade the wiring in the whole building, or they’d shut off our power in 30 days. So we buckled down and reworked it with electrician friends and thousands of feet of Romex. But between each of those soul-crushing moments, we hosted incredible musicians and bands, made friends, and saw people utilizing the building in a way I had only dreamed of. It made all the bumps Worth it. So far. I don’t know if I could be convinced to dig up a collapsed sewer line twice in one month again.

We’ve been impressed with Farewell, but for folks who might need to be more familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Many people have described Farewell as cozy and comfortable, like a friend’s living room. We specialize in hosting live music in a unique, colorful collage of a Bar, where everyone is welcome and a little confused/excited by the decor. One notable thing that sets us apart is that our space operates more like a community center and communal living room than just a bar/cafe. During daytime hours, people often sit in one of our many colorful, decoupaged corners collaborating on creative projects. At night the space transforms, and the space pulsates with energy as bands load in, lights dim, and beers start cracking open. The thing about our space that makes me the proudest has been using our combined experiences in DIY music to foster a welcoming and wholly unpretentious atmosphere. We want people to come in and feel welcome to be themselves and work on anything, maybe even finding collaboration or inspiration in the space.

We love to hear about any fond memories you have from growing up.
My favorite memory as a kid was seeing my first live show, aged 5, at red rocks outside of Denver, CO. My parents took my sibling and me to see Blues Traveler. I couldn’t wrap my head around how many people were there. I am 100%, not a blues traveler stand now, but it was formative and made my little brain think about how nice it was; people were all together hugging and laughing and watching music.

Pricing:

• Drip Coffee $1
• Hamms $2
• If that doesn’t entice you, I don’t know what will.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @farewellkcmo
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/farewelltransmission?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits
Maxim Popoff