Antioch’s “iconic” Mac’s Old House sold, to reopen next June
Will have “the original menu…same feel, same ambiance. New bathrooms. More dining. More parking. New kitchen.” – Joe Martinez
New co-owner has history of buying, improving historic Antioch buildings
By Allen D. Payton
A post on the Mac’s Old House Facebook page on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, shared some good news for diners in Antioch and East County community.
It reads, “As most of you’ve heard…we have some exciting news. The legacy of Mac’s Old House will live on!
Mac’s has officially been purchased by Joe Martinez and Ron Harrison. We’re thrilled to share that their goal is to preserve Mac’s as much as possible, with some much-needed updates along the way. They’re aiming for a June 2026 reopening—exactly one year after closing!
As many of you know, the building needs major improvements, including bringing everything up to 2025 code. This is no small task, and we’re incredibly grateful that the new owners are committed to taking it on while honoring the history of the building.
When Mac converted his home into a bar on St. Patrick’s Day in 1956, and later a restaurant, none of us could have imagined how special this place would become. Gary Noe didn’t purchase the restaurant until 1983, and only then did the menu change into what everyone knows and loves today. Mac’s has needed a tune-up for quite some time and we’re all very excited to see the renovations and improvements (including expansion and more takeout options!!!)
Former head chef and manager Rick Cook will be lending his support and passing along all of Mac’s classic recipes.
We always did our best to keep prices as low as possible, and we know the new team is striving for that as well.
We all want the legacy of Mac’s to live on and be as successful as it can be. We’re looking forward to the future and cannot wait to see what 2026 has in store!!”
Martinez Offers Details
When reached for comment, Martinez offered additional details.
“I’ve been eyeballing this property. It’s iconic. It’s been in business for 42 years,” he stated. “I knew it was going to be a lot of work but a good investment for Mac’s Old House and the Antioch community.”
Asked about the menu he said, “We’re going to have the same menu.”
“Rick is going to go there and help with the recipes, show them how to cook the food to make sure we get everything right,” Martinez continued. “We have Sherry who runs Mel’s Diner in Antioch, she’s going to run it, basically. I told her the original menu, the original recipe. She can add a few things.”
About the improvements Martinez said, “We’re going to gut the whole thing. But it’s going to have the columns, the same feel, same ambiance. New bathrooms. More dining. More parking. New kitchen. It’s a substantial investment.”
“We want people to walk in and go ‘wow,” he stated.
A few new aspects will also be added.
“We’ll have a place on the side for DoorDash and we’re going to take credit cards,” Martinez added.
“It closed on the 22nd of June. So, I’m hoping to open a year-and-a-day after that. We might be ready a bit earlier,” he shared. “We’ll start with a soft opening.
“A couple of waitresses said they want to come back, one maybe part-time,” Martinez said.
History of Antioch Building Renovations
Martinez already has a history of buying and renovating buildings in Antioch, including five in downtown Rivertown.
The first one was the yellow painted “J. Ross building at the corner of G and W. 3rd Streets,” he shared. (That was the location of the first office for this reporter’s first newspaper, the Antioch Press).
Second was “the building where Blue’s Club was and Smash Burgers is located now” on the corner of W. 2nd and I Streets.
Third was “the old pool hall, the red brick building” on W. 2nd Street next to Smash Burgers.
Fourth was “the old Masonic Hall where the Antioch Armory is located, now” at the corner of W. 3rd and H Streets across from City Hall.
Then, he “bought and renovated the Casino Building” in Waldie Plaza, near the railroad tracks and river.
He likes to do mixed use with business below and apartments above, Martinez shared
“I’ve been downtown for 26 years, now,” he added.
Regarding the current renovations at Mac’s, Martinez said, “We have people driving by and they’ll honk and wave. We have people stopping by and sharing their stories, like one couple who said they got engaged there. It’s great.”
“It’s going to be nice. We’re excited,” he concluded.
Mac’s Old House is located at 3100 E. 18th Street in Antioch.
