Gowanus is an excellent place to be if you want a drink. Across the neighborhood’s numerous breweries, dive bars and venues, the hardest part about getting a drink is deciding where to go. For many locals, the decision was a no-brainer. Let’s go to Dirty Precious.
Unfortunately, Dirty Precious announced it would be closing its doors on August 2025 after nearly a decade of operation. Now, anew cocktail bar, Shania’s Max Bet, is taking over Dirty Precious’ old space on 317 3rd Ave., hoping to bring something new, with an air of familiarity, to the neighborhood. The upcoming bar is aiming for a mid-summer opening.
Shania’s co-owners Robin Daily and Mike Brown met at Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club, where Daily worked for a decade, and Brown was a regular. The upcoming bar also owes its name to Royal Palms, named after a group of Royal Palms employees who would go up to Atlantic City for a Friendsgiving outing. “We kind of adopted this name, Max Bet, for our crew,” Daily says. “We’ve been saying it for years and years now.” The crew has yet to win big, but they’re still working on it.
Looking for a spot to hang out after work, Daily says they would frequently end up at Dirty Precious. “We love the space, we love the people. We love what it was for the neighborhood,” he says. When they heard that Dirty Precious was closing, the co-owners thought this could be the opportunity to open that bar they’ve always talked about opening.
“We were like, ‘Oh, this could be interesting,'” Daily says. They reached out to inquire about the lease, and “the ball just kept rolling.”
Shania’s is aiming to toe the line between neighborhood spot and elevated cocktail bar. In the rebuild, the pair is planning on adding some color, energy and comfort. You’ll find your classic cocktails, like martinis, along with some old-school drinks like Midori Sours. As the night progresses and you get through your first drink, then your second drink, and maybe your ill-advised third drink, you might want to switch it up. Shania’s there for you with neighborhood-spot offerings, like wines and beer-shot combos.
“It’ll be a fun place you can hang out with some friends,” Brown says. “Find a two-top and have a first or second date, enjoy great cocktails.”
Ultimately, the duo’s vision for Shania’s won’t deviate terribly from its predecessor. Regulars at Dirty Precious will see something familiar in Shania’s, while finding something new to love. As much as it’s Daily and Brown’s dream bar, it’s also a spot created for the neighborhood. “We’re really excited to bring something back that people enjoy, and hopefully make it ours,” Brown says.
