Bar Rescue Updates

Big W Cattle Co. (Uncle Albert's Pub) - Bar Rescue Update

2024-07-14T00:15:00.001-04:00

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, the show is in Houston, Texas to rescue Uncle Albert's Pub. This is another episode where Jon Taffer will not be involved and Phil Wills will be in charge of the rescue with the help of Danny Trejo. Uncle Albert's Pub is owned by Les and Rebecca Weaver and they are supposedly $123,000 in debt. When doing recon, they find that the bar is not following cleaning procedures and Les is drinking while at the bar. Les also doesn't like how the show is treating everybody which causes an argument. The bar is supposedly losing about $3,000 a month and is months away from closing.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, the show decided to change the name of Uncle Albert's Pub to Big W Cattle Co. and the bar has kept the name. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Big W Cattle Co. since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"Elisa has gone above and beyond for me and my buddies every single time we have visited. The name change didn’t change the culture which was already great. She won me over my first visit and she is why I’ve continued to frequent Big W’s."

Negative Reviews:

"What I love about dive bars are the prices, and good food. This place is expensive and the foods not good. It’s an extremely, embarrassingly bad bar. They’ve remodeled and changed the name. Prices are similar to what you’d find at an upscale bar around downtown Houston area."
"It's already a different name and different prices too"

*Reviews from Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Uncle Albert's Pub happened April 2024, so just a few months before the episode aired.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Bar Rescue YouTube page
Here is the Uncle Albert's Pub website and Facebook page. They haven't posted anything since the makeover, but the reviews say the name has changed. It seems they kept the name of Big W Cattle Co., but they have yet to update their website or social media sites.
Here are the Facebook pages of Les (owner), Rebecca (owner), Elisa (bartender), Keesa (bartender)
Here are the reviews for Big W Cattle Co. from Yelp and Google.
Shortly after the Bar Rescue makeover (May 2024) there was a video posted online of a driver running over a woman and fleeing the scene right outside of Big W Cattle Co. (Link)

Conclusion:

Bar Rescue decided to change the name of Uncle Albert's Pub to Big W Cattle Co. and the bar has kept the name despite not updating their website/social media. Because the episode is airing just a few months after the makeover, there aren't too many reviews, so it is hard to see how things are going. The few reviews that Big W Cattle Co. has are mixed with there being a few comments about the higher prices. This will be a bar to monitor to see if they end up updating their website/social media sites and start advertising their appearance on Bar Rescue.

*To see how all of the bars from Bar Rescue are doing, go to the Bar Rescue Updates page, and also Like us on Facebook or Follow Us on Twitter to stay up to date with all things involving Bar Rescue.

Dr. Philgoods Laboratory Bar & Grill (Dr. Philgoods Sports Bar) - Bar Rescue Update

2024-06-30T10:27:00.002-04:00

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, which is the 250th episode, Jon Taffer and crew are in Pompano Beach, Florida to rescue Dr. Philgoods Sports Bar. The bar is owned by Carl Johnson and they do not even have a drink menu available during recon. The bartenders also cannot make standard drinks such as an Old Fashioned or a Manhattan.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to slightly change the name of Dr. Philgoods Sports Bar to Dr. Philgoods Laboratory Bar & Grill. It seems they mostly use "Dr. Philgoods" but they seemed to have gone back to Dr. Philgoods Sports Bar. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Dr. Philgoods Sports Bar since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"Cool place, cool people. Great place to go if you're hanging at the nearby hotels and need someplace close by. Good hotdogs"
"Good place, quiet, good atmosphere and spending time with family, friends or colleagues."
"Unexpectedly big inside and very different from the outside that is needing a face lift but inside you'll find great food,( chicken wings were on point every time)good music and great service."
"I love coming here they are so friendly and nice I love my two favorite bartenders Kelly and Desiree. When you come to this bar you feel like family here. The food and drinks are amazing of course."

Negative Reviews:

"Sorry bar rescue, epic fail from the outside to the inside & the service sucks as much as it did before...."

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Dr. Philgoods happened in February 2024.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Bar Rescue YouTube page
Here is the Dr. Philgoods website and Facebook page.

All of the posts and advertisements use Dr. Philgoods Sports Bar, so they still go by their old name.
Here is a Facebook post right after the makeover that tells people to come to Dr. Philgoods Laboratory Bar & Grill, but it uses an old picture that has the 'Sports Bar' sign. (Link)

Here are the Facebook pages of Carl (owner), Patty (Carl's daughter/server), Debbie (bartender), Jay (bartender)
The bar is having a watch party for the episode and Carl is advertising that they will have free pizza and free shots. (Link)
The bar had a ZipRecruiter ad to hire a General Manager right after the makeover offering $65,000 a year with benefits. (Link)
Here are the reviews for Dr. Philgoods from Yelp and Google.

Yelp is the only place that still has the bar listed as Dr. Philgoods Laboratory Bar & Grill.

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to slightly change the name of Dr. Philgoods Sports Bar to Dr. Philgoods Laboratory Bar & Grill. All of their advertisements still use Dr. Philgoods Sports Bar, but as the bar is mostly referred to as Dr. Philgoods, the tagline below doesn't really matter too much. There aren't too many reviews since the makeover, but the few reviews seem to be positive and customers like the atmosphere and bartenders. The owner Carl has been advertising their episode and watch party for quite some time on social media, so he seems happy about the experience with Bar Rescue.

Gold Rush Saloon (Tumbleweed Grill) - Bar Rescue Update

2024-06-23T11:49:00.001-04:00

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, the show is in Apache Junction, Arizona to rescue Tumbleweed Grill. Jon Taffer will not be there for this rescue and has appointed hospitality expert Dustin Drai to do this rescue. During recon, they find that the bartenders cannot make basic drinks such as an Old Fashioned and have to Google recipes. The owners have no experience in operations, design, or service, so Dustin will have to teach them these skills in hopes of turning the bar around.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, the show decided to change the name of Tumbleweed Grill to Gold Rush Saloon and they quickly changed it back to Tumbleweed Grill. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Gold Rush Saloon/Tumbleweed Grill since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"Tumble into the Tumbleweed and you'll find fine food, friendly folks, and fun, all served up in a pleasant and lively atmosphere. A full bar, attentive service, a varied menu, and sports on the TVs all await. Tumble-weird burger, while overcooked as per the order, was tasty. Patty Melt was perfect. Tater Tots were delicious with a crispy exterior and soft interior. First-time visitor for lunch and will be back to try dinner."
"Tried the Tumbleweed for breakfast this morning. I thought the remodel was very nice & liked the new booths. The staff was very friendly and we ordered right away. Our food came out timely and was good. We will definitely go back."
"Fun place. Live music on a Thursday with audience stepping in. Good meal, good drinks. Bartender was waiting tables, stretched thin."

Negative Reviews:

"Food below par. Service iffy. Had a server who would not give a detailed print out of costs. Came back twice with different total. That was it. No sense in telling a rude owner. We tried to support but we have 4 couples who also refuse to ever go back. Pity"
"Who knows?! Hours online says they're open. Doors are locked, lights on. Apparently closed? Just looking for food. Guess I'll pop over to the Handlebar grill where all the cars are!"
"Terrible food! They are not consistent. Service is absolutely horrible you may get your food but they never come back and prices are ridiculous. There are so many other places with quality food and cheaper!"
"I stopped in to look at the menu today as I am gluten intolerant and have an employee party coming up at this place. Looking at the menu was no help and when I asked the server she said she had no idea if anything was gluten-free. I said I would probably have to skip the party she was rude and said "OK bye" not in a friendly manner at all. This place will not last long here."
"Local sports/dive bar. My patty melt had a 1/4 pound pre formed patty with barely toasted rye. Asked for my Tator tots to be extra crispy, again disappointed. Service was average. Looks like floor hasn't been swept for a couple of days. Beer was cold."
"One person serving, busing tables, working cash register. We came for breakfast but didn't want the buffet. Waited 30 minutes to be served. Eggs were hard and cold and probably from the buffet. The pancake was good. Waited 20 minutes on coffee refill after asking. Do NOT eat here unless you get the buffet."
"I wanted to check out their new look. Bar Rescue should have done a better job! The "saloon" is only partially finished. Both outside bar area and back rooms need serious reorganization and decor to match front. The business does not have an inviting flow from one area to another. If I had not been told there were other rooms, I was left clueles. Signage would help. Back room is sparsely furnished and bland, not very welcoming. Service was sub-par,"
"We understand that you are busy. A simple "I'll be right with you" is all that is needed. But to completely ignore customers is disrespectful and speaks volumes. We left. Your loss."

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Tumbleweed Grill happened in October 2023.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Bar Rescue YouTube page
Here is the Tumbleweed Grill/Gold Rush Saloon Facebook page and their website now has a expired domain.

While their Facebook page has Tumbleweed Grill and Gold Rush Saloon in the title, all of their advertisements use Tumbleweed Grill, so they went back to their old name.
In a Facebook post a few weeks after the makeover, they posted, "Our Tumbleweed sign originally went up one year ago today. Our name was changed when we recently received a surprise makeover but today our Tumbleweed sign is going back up. Seeing this pop up in my memories today confirms we are doing the right thing."

Here are the reviews for Tumblweed Grill from Yelp and Google.
Tumbleweed Grill/Gold Rush Saloon closed on April 19th, 2024, about six months after the Bar Rescue makeover and before the episode first aired in June 2024. They posted the following message on their Facebook page, which said, "We are sad to announce that Tumbleweed Grill will be permanently closed as of Friday, April 19th, 2024. We want to thank our loyal staff for being part of this incredible journey with us. Thank you to all our loyal customers for the support and friendship over the past couple of years. It has been an honor to serve you and we will truly miss all of you."

Conclusion:

Bar Rescue decided to change the name of Tumbleweed Grill to Gold Rush Saloon, but the bar quickly changed their name back to Tumbleweed Grill and put up their original sign. The reviews for Tumbleweed Grill were pretty negative with a lot of 1-star reviews and complaints about service. Tumbleweed Grill ended up closing six months after the Bar Rescue makeover and before their episode first aired, so they were unable to take advantage of the publicity of being on the show. Tumbleweed Grill/Gold Rush Saloon has been marked as 'Closed' on the Bar Rescue Updates page.

Don Marcos Cantina (Cielo Restaurant and Lounge) - Bar Rescue Update

2024-06-16T11:21:00.002-04:00

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Port St. Lucie, Florida to rescue Cielo Restaurant and Lounge. During recon, the owners are just standing around and doing nothing. Also, the bartenders cannot make basic drinks and do not have a proper service well. The training standards for the staff are non-existent and the owners are supposedly $150,000 in debt. Jon will need to get the owners to regain their confidence and show them how to properly run a bar.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Cielo Restaurant and Lounge to Don Marcos Cantina and the bar has kept the name. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Don Marcos Cantina since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"Always wonderful! Bar fabulous with great views, all dining relaxing with incredible wait staff (especially Jeff!! and outstanding food. Filet, ribeye, lobster done perfectly. . A true gem! Traffic this year on Sanibel made getting there from where we are M-F difficult- but we made reservations on a Saturday. Amazing drinks!- we got a smoked Manhattan and smoked bourbon and later superb wines with the meal.- The ONLY problem was: I was jealous my husband got a blue duck in his Manhattan ice cube, and I did not! 😂😂 I stole it from him later."

Negative Reviews:

"We walked through the door and the first thing we're told is Cielo's is Now Don Marcos Cantina and they have been Bar Rescued. I'm calling bull ^&*t on that one. We were the second table seated for a full house comedy show. The menu is hand cut and lying on the table with only 5 options. But they have empanadas and fries too. We ordered the empanadas, but don't really know if they make them because 80 minutes later they still hadn't arrived. The food that did come out was cold. We did get a $9 bowl of fries prepared incorrectly ,however now there was food on the table. So there's that! Here's the kicker- wait for it... The prices on the bill are different than the menu. You see they have a different menu in the back so it's ok???? Whatever the name is- NEVER going back- and either is Jon Taffer"

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Cielo Restaurant and Lounge happened in the February.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Bar Rescue YouTube page
Here is the Don Marcos Cantina Instagram and Facebook page. They also have their old Facebook page that continues posting updates and advertisements.

They have an "As seen on TV" tagline on their Facebook page and are advertising their cocktail menu "created by Bar Rescue celebrity mixologist Mia Mastroianni."
All of the recent advertisements on their pages say Don Marcos Cantina, so they have kept the name.

Here are the Facebook pages of Mark (owner), Os (owner), and Kim (bartender).
Here are the reviews for Don Marcos Cantina from Yelp and Google.

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Cielo Restaurant and Lounge to Don Marcos Cantina and the bar has kept the name. The bar does not have many reviews since the makeover, so it's hard to get an idea on how it is doing through reviews. Don Marcos Cantina is advertising its appearance on Bar Rescue and the cocktails created by the show, so it seems they have embraced what the show installed at the bar and continue to go with the concept.

Shore's Bar + Kitchen (Inland Tavern) - Bar Rescue Update

2024-06-08T23:55:00.004-04:00

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, they are in San Marcos, Florida to rescue Inland Tavern. This is another episode where Jon Taffer is not there and Phil Wills is in charge of the rescue. During recon, they see that the bartenders cannot make basic drinks and they are not trained properly. The owner Pete is supposedly $800,000 in debt and Inland Tavern is supposedly less than a year from having to close.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, they decided to change the name of Inland Tavern to Shore's Bar + Kitchen and the bar has kept the new name. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Shore's Bar + Kitchen since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"My boyfriend and I stopped in here when we were in San Marcos having a fun weekend. We were having a drinking night so we stayed at the bar and ordered some drinks. The bartender was lovely, very attentive and makes tasty drinks. I also loved the atmosphere of this Very cute restaurant."
"So happy to have found this place! It's super cute, great music, food is bomb and Sabrina the bartender/server is super sweet and efficient. She let us know one of our favorite shows, Bar Rescue, helped reinvent the place. We'll be back!"
"Love this place! Only been here twice but definitely will be going again very soon. Amazing Happy Hour prices, food and drinks Mon.-Fri. and definitely the best place for Taco Tuesday. Up scale food with great prices. Nice clean inviting atmosphere and a big dog friendly patio."
"Love this Bar & Kitchen! Not only are the food & drinks amazing but the staff Rock!! Best service in town!! I will definitely recommend this spot to EVERYONE! It's a must try!"
"Okayyy!! I have not been here in a while and I am happy I am back! This place has everything new! The service is amazing! The ambiance here is absolutely delightful! The hubby and I will definitely be back here now that it is all renovated! Come and check it out and enjoy a drink by the fireplace"
"Love this place. The service is great. Really very welcoming, and really relaxing vibes. I come for football. I stay for the wings and burgers. Shoutout to the entire staff. They are the picture of consistency. If you're looking for some good food and cold beers to watch your evening games I think this spot is slowly becoming my favorite. See you next Thursday!"
"This place has completely turned around. Much more comfortable aesthetically and the service is amazing. I'll definitely be coming back"

Negative Reviews:

"Why the heck did you ruin the fish and chips? The chips are no longer fresh made and the fish was so dry! What a Shit show this place is now!!Never again! Save your 33.00 and go somewhere else! Price is ridiculous also!"
"The service was very slow for a mid week lunch. I was hoping the food would have had more flavor, but it wasn't horrible."

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Inland Tavern happened in September 2023.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Bar Rescue YouTube page
Here is the Shore's Bar + Kitchen website and Facebook page.

Despite the URLs saying Inland Tavern, all of the graphics now have "Shore's Bar + Kitchen."
Right after the makeover the bar posted, "We not only changed the name, we also completed a much-needed remodel. We are still the fun-loving costal vibe venue, with new exciting changes! All our staff is still on board, and Executive Chef Corey has revamped the menu with fresh new bites. We have implemented a stunning cocktail program, along with our 20 Craft Taps."

They also said they are still a Packers bar for football season and they plan to do updates to their patio.

Here are the Facebook page of Pete (owner), Cara (bartender), Corey (chef)
Here are the reviews for Shore's Bar + Kitchen from Yelp and Google.

The reviews before the makeover were not too bad either.

Conclusion:

Bar Rescue decided to change the name of Inland Tavern to Shore's Bar + Kitchen, and the bar has kept the name. The reviews since the makeover are very positive with people liking the service, food, drinks, and atmosphere. It seems like Shore's Bar + Kitchen has had a positive response to the makeover and the reviews before the makeover were not that bad either. The bar seems happy with the makeover and plans to continue making updates.

Jerzy's Sports Pub (Gerri's Sports Pub) - Bar Rescue Update

2024-06-02T15:59:00.002-04:00

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Margate, Florida to rescue Gerri's Sports Pub. Gerri's Sports Pub is a dive bar and during recon the team thinks its way to dirty even for a dive bar. The bar allows smoking and everything in the bar is stained yellow from the smoke. Despite being a sports bar, the TV's for showing games are way too small. The bar is supposedly losing $2,000 a month and in danger of closing before it can be passed down to family.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to slightly change the name of Gerri's Sports Pub to Jerzy's Sports Pub, but it seems they still use the name Gerri's Sports Pub. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Gerri's Sports Pub since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"I stop in from time to time every one is always friendly and fun. Never had a problem going alone!!"

Negative Reviews:

"Disgusting because of Brenda leatherwood this lady go every morning to get Drugs, Gerris is a hiding spot and I'm tired of it, I don't care how much money this woman have they should not have her in front of Gerris buying for drug every morning."

*Reviews from Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Gerri's Sports Pub happened in March 2024.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Bar Rescue YouTube page.
Pretty much the only mention of Jerzy's Pub is from their most recent restaurant inspection, which can be found here. Also, Jerzy's Sport Pub is listed as the name for that address on Bizapedia.
I called the bar and they answered the phone as "Gerri's," so they still use Gerri's as the name.
Here is the Gerri's Sports Pub Facebook page (which hasn't posted since 2021). They do not have a website.
The bar closes at either 2am or 4am depending on the day of the week.
Someone who runs a karaoke business was advertising their event at Jerzy's Sports Pub shortly after the Bar Rescue makeover and said the bar now had no smoking inside. With not many reviews, it is hard to see if they kept that change.
Here are the reviews for Gerri's Sports Pub from Yelp and Google. There were only a couple reviews from after the makeover to when the episode aired.
In 2021, someone was arrested for selling drugs at Gerri's Sports Pub and in 2023 someone was arrested for possession of a firearm during a fight at the bar.

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to slightly change the name of Gerri's Sports Pub to Jerzy's Sports Pub, but it seems the bar still uses the name Gerri's. The bar doesn't really have an online presence and there aren't really many reviews to see how the bar is doing. The bar answers the phone as "Gerri's" so they still use their name from before the makeover despite some of the paperwork now saying Jerzy's. Bar Rescue made the bar non-smoking and it said at the end of the episode that they kept it non-smoking.. I will keep an eye on this one as more information becomes available and can update this post if there is anything important.

VFW Post 1689 - Bar Rescue Update

2024-05-18T21:37:00.000-04:00

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Jacksonville, Florida to rescue VFW Post 1689. While Jon is doing recon, he finds that the bartenders do not know how to make basic drinks such as a dirty martini. He also finds a building that is falling apart and beer taps that do not function properly. He will need to find a way to turn things around and increase the membership numbers at the bar.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to keep the name of VFW Post1689 like he has for all other VFW rescues. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for VFW Post 1689 since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

None

Negative Reviews:

None

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for VFW Post happened in December 2023.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Bar Rescue YouTube page
Here is the VFW Post 1689 website and Facebook page.

The bar posts events on Facebook and they are having a watch party for the episode.

A local article about the Bar Rescue makeover said the bar has 115 members and the show "redid the front lobby, renovated the entire bar area, provided a new panini press and pizza oven, renovated and recertified the stove hood and fire-suppression system and resurfaced the pool table." Pete LaComb said they still have work they would like to do such as the ceilings, floors, air conditioning and renovations for an event room. He was very appreciative of the rescue and estimated that Bar Rescue spent about $75,000 on the makeover.
Here are the reviews for VFW Post 1689 from Yelp and Google.

The Google reviews are pretty positive, but there haven't really been any since the makeover.

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer kept the name of VFW Post 1689 as he has done with all the previous VFW makeovers. There aren't too many reviews for VFW Post 1689 but the reviews from the past seem very positive. It seems they are happy with the makeover and they also plan on continuing renovations. A local article said the membership at the bar is at 115 members, so maybe the episode airing will help increase membership. As this makeover was for a non-profit organization and not a failing bar, VFW Post 1689 will not be included in the Bar Rescue statistics on the Bar Rescue Updates page.

Three Tides Restaurant & Bar (Los Cocos) - Bar Rescue Update

2024-05-11T22:57:00.000-04:00

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer is once again absent and Ashish Alfred is in charge of the rescue. The Bar Rescue crew is in Port Saint Lucie, Florida to rescue Los Cocos Restaurant. The bar is a family run business owned by Evens Latortue and brothers Eddy, and Carl. There are no systems in place or basic standards and the stress of the failing business is having an impact on the family's relationship. The bar is supposedly losing $8,000 a month and the brothers are almost $300,000 in debt.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Los Cocos to Three Tides Restaurant & Bar and the bar has kept the name. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Three Tides Restaurant & Bar since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"Bill Clapper with Restaurant Renovations on The Food Channel went in and you can find out what changed, the show will air on MOTHER'S DAY 💐!!!!! The new name is Three Tides. So I'm going to post my new photos of the menu changes and the indoor and outdoor stages. Good Luck, they're super owners and deserve it!"
"Very nice environment, the was delicious 😋. So far the best Caribbean food in Port St Lucie."

Negative Reviews:

"Not authentic food it was actually embarrassing the amount of meat they provided in the oxtail for 100 plus dinner for two it was definitely not worth it. There was only three other families in there and only one server at 7:00pm. And conch frittors were drowned in oil severe heartburn. Charged us for the same price even though they ran out of what we asked for and gave us whatever they had in the kitchen. Food wasn't very edible and portion size is for a child."

*Reviews from Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Los Cocos happened in February 2023.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Bar Rescue YouTube page.
Here is the Three Tides Restaurant & Bar Facebook page and Instagram.

They have kept the name and all of the recent advertisements for events have the Three Tides Restaurant & Bar name.

Here are the reviews for Three Tides Restaurant & Bar from Yelp and Google.
Here are the Facebook pages of Evens (owner), Eddy (owner/GM), Karl (owner), Mark (Even's son, bartender)

Conclusion:

This was another Bar Rescue episode without Jon Taffer and Ashish Alfred was in charge of making all of the changes. The bar was renamed from Los Cocos to Three Tides Restaurant & Bar and the bar has kept the name. They seem to like the changes that were made by the show and they have kept the name, but there aren't too many reviews to determine what customers think of the bar. The makeover was done just a few months before airing, so there hasn't been much time for people to visit and provide reviews.

Boca Luna Luxe Lounge (One11 Boca) - Bar Rescue Update

2024-05-05T14:10:00.001-04:00

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer is back and they are in Boca Raton, Florida to rescue One11 Boca. One11 Boca is owned by Jay Joseph who designed the entire layout of the bar. During recon, Jon says it is one of the worst layouts he has ever seen and there is no flow to the bar. Also, the bar is dirty, the furniture is falling apart, and Jay is supposedly $800,000 in debt.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to change the name of One11 Boca to Boca Luna Luxe Lounge and the bar has kept the name. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Boca Luna Luxe Lounge since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"Kat was amazing! She was very friendly and had great conversation with us. The drinks were amazing as well."
"This place is such a good vibe, I went happy hour and it was perfect. The ambiance and music really sets the tone. I enjoyed an appletini, teriyaki beef skewers and crab cakes all was delicious 😋. If definitely recommend Boca Luna to those looking to enjoy themselves. There’s also an outdoor bar and setting for those that love the fresh air. Staff was kind and attentive. I wish I could give this place 10 stars. I will be going back for some of the events they’ll be hosting soon."
"Food and drinks were excellent and service was great! We had the steak skewers and crab cakes and they were delicious!"
"The host and outside bar tender were absolutely amazing! Vibe was great and so was the DJ. Definitely will be back for Saturday nights again!"
"If you're looking for an unforgettable night out filled with excitement, energy, and top-notch entertainment, look no further than Boca Luna luxe Lounge! This vibrant hotspot exceeded all of my expectations and left me wanting more."
"This club is unique, unrivaled in Boca Raton,it reminds me of the great night clubs in the eighties. The owner is welcoming and interact with his guests. Great for a night out for dancing, and good music."

Negative Reviews:

"The venue was just okay a little too small. I'm feeling rushed before they're next event began. The staff was nice, but nothing extraordinary."

*Reviews from Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for One11 Boca happened in February 2024.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Bar Rescue YouTube page
Here is the Boca Luna Luxe Lounge website and Facebook page. They also have another Facebook page which is more active and an Instagram page.
Here are the Facebook pages of Jay (owner), Kat (manager)

Jay posted on his Facebook about the upcoming episode, "OPPS I did it again! Always cooking up something, yes I’m on the show doing my thing how’s my acting lol remember it’s only tv 📺 this Sunday Boca Luna Luxe Lounge live showing hope to see you all there.."

Here are some photos of the reveal and interior of Boca Luna Luxe Lounge from the makeover in February. (Link)
The bar had a grand opening ceremony in March.
Here are the reviews for Boca Luna Luxe Lounge from Yelp and Google.

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to change the name of One11Boca to Boca Luna Luxe Lounge and the bar has kept the name. The reviews for Boca Luna Luxe Lounge are mostly positive and the reviews before the makeover were also positive. People seem to like the atmosphere, service, owner, and the food and drinks.

Epic Live (Epic Lounge) - Bar Rescue Update

2024-04-27T23:10:00.001-04:00

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer is once again absent and his crew are in Downey, California to rescue Epic Lounge. Epic Lounge is a live music venue that is supposedly struggling after years of neglect and mismanagement. During recon, the bar doesn't have enough menus, the kitchen is filthy, and they can't make basic drinks such as a ranch water.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, they decided to slightly change the name of Epic Lounge to Epic Live and it seems they still use both names. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Epic Live since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"Great spot for drinks and a good laugh"
"The sign on the building reads "Epic Live." I went there for a private event for the Downey Coalition of the Arts. The atmosphere was nice. There was plenty of space. One door opens to the street, and two more open into an adjoining cocktail bar, which I believe was called Epic Bites. Parking was scarce. On a busy night it would likely be difficult to find a place to park other than about half a block away in the paid parking structure."
"This place has been transformed. A pleasant venue."
"Renovated venue that feels more with the times! New drink & food menu! So yummy! First pic is truffle fries with prosecco drink and 2nd is grilled cheese which is 🔥"
"This is definitely a hidden gem in Downey. It's located right off of second Street and Downey blending in nicely so it's unnoticeable. I love a really good cheeseburger, especially when all the ingredients combined create perfection. This cheeseburger "the LAX" should be top ten for the month of December 2023 in LA county."
"Wow! This club has been recently renovated and it looks amazing. They moved the bar into the neighboring building which elevated the space drastically. There's great VIP seating with sleek new seating. I'm looking forward to karaoke night on Wednesdays!"

Negative Reviews:

"The new looks good but they need a new DJ that can mix well, and a better promoter"
"Sub par food I literally saw someone walk in with 2 bags of precooked grocery store chicken wings no crowd on a Friday night I'm seeing a Tyson frozen chicken patty being used for the buffalo fries here....this place is very low effort epic failure.... Will not be back can't even have a actual music app they have YouTube with commercials and all inside is dreary humid and not very inviting"

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Epic Lounge happened in October 2023.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Bar Rescue YouTube page
Here is the Epic Live website and Facebook page. Also, here is their Instagram.

Their advertisements for events use both Epic Live and Epic Lounge, so it seems they use the names interchangeably.

Here are the reviews for Epic Live from Yelp and Google.
Owner David Devis also owns another business called LA Buns, which is a fast food restaurant specializing in burgers.

Conclusion:

Bar Rescue decided to slightly change the name of Epic Lounge to Epic Live and it seems the bar uses the names interchangeably. They kept the changes done by Bar Rescue, but their advertisements seem to use both Epic Live and Epic Lounge. The reviews for the bar are mostly positive with a lot of people complementing the renovations. The owner David also owns another business which specializes in burgers. This was another rescue done without Jon Taffer, but he still hasn't given a reason to why he missed a few rescues this season.

Playoffs Sports Lounge - Bar Rescue Update

2024-04-20T21:37:00.001-04:00

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer is back and they are in Desert Hot Springs, California to rescue Playoffs Sports Lounge. The 20-year-old bar is owned by Eric and Ann-Sofie Pontius and the episode description says it has failed to ever make a profit. The bar is outdated and it has no systems in place such as a POS system. While Jon is doing recon, they find that the bartenders are making drinks that are way too strong and are keeping tabs by hand.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to keep the name of Playoffs Sports Lounge. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Playoffs Sports Lounge since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"Love this bar! The service is top notch and the drinks are just what is needed after a long day at work. It has a very chill atmosphere and offers karaoke, theme nights and of course all the sporting events. I have even arranged to have coworkers meet there and the owner always accommodates a large party. Thank you for being the best!"
"We recently moved into DHS after a lifetime in Palm Springs. Needed local places for date night and Football. We stopped here and so glad we did. Craig and Letty are awesome people who make you feel like friends hanging out."
"Service is always good. Staff is very friendly and prices are great! Great place to hang out and watch sports or have a few drinks with friends."
"It's a very unique bar. Most of the clientele are locals and regulars. But all are very friendly and seem to enjoy meeting new people. The food is pub fare ok not great. The bartender I met was Letty. She was always smiling and seemed to enjoy here job. She made me feel like a regular right a way. It's a fun place to go for a drink, meet some very nice people and watch your team"
"love this place! so friendly and accepting. wonderful owner and staff!"
"Don't serve food but lots of tvs for sports."

Negative Reviews:

None

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Playoffs Sports Lounge happened in August 2023
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Bar Rescue YouTube page
Here is the Playoffs Sports Lounge website and Facebook page.
The bar is having a watch party and said, "We told you we would let you know when our episode aired so here is a sneak peek for tomorrow nights Season 9 episode 9. We will air the broadcast at Playoffs at 10 pm tomorrow, Sunday April 21st. Desert Fire Tacos will be serving from the patio and Letty will be crafting cocktails! It was a stressful week of filming but our staff did an amazing job! The Bar Rescue professionals and Jon said as much. We couldn’t have been prouder!"

In April 2024, they partnered with a local taco shop and that shop is selling Mexican food at Playoffs Sports Lounge. (Link)

Here are the Facebook pages of Ann (owner), Eric (owner), Letty (bartender/Eric's fiance)
Here are the reviews for Playoffs Sports Lounge from Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Google.
Owner Ann-Sofie Pontius is also the owner of a CrossFit gym. (Link)
Owner Eric Pontius is also the owner of Bar One Beverage Catering which is a company that provides bartenders for special events. (Link)

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to keep the name of Playoffs Sports Lounge and the reviews since the makeover have all been positive with people complementing the service and atmosphere. It seems like they do not serve food there, but they have partnered with a local business that serves Mexican food. Both Ann and Eric both own other businesses and Eric's business provides bartenders for events which is kind of ironic. The fact that the bar has been opened for so long, has positive reviews and both owners have other businesses tells me this was a bar that may not have been struggling as much as other bars that have appeared on the show.

La Perla Sports Club (Cantina) - Bar Rescue Update

2024-04-13T23:17:00.001-04:00

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, the show is in Glendale, Arizona to rescue La Perla Sports Cantina. This is another episode this season where Jon Taffer is not present, and Dustin Drai is in charge of rescuing La Perla Sports Cantina. During recon, the bartenders cannot make basic drinks such as spicy margaritas. Also, the owner Mark is buying rounds for everybody while being supposedly $750,000 in debt. He is treating the bar as a personal hangout instead of a business.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, the show decided to slightly change the name of La Perla Sports Cantina to La Perla Sports Club and the bar has kept the name. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for La Perla Sports Club since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"It was busy, but it was a game day so to be expected from what I assumed was more of a "sports bar" anyway. Waitress wasn't too knowledgeable on the specials or what came with individual regular entree orders, but was quick to correct. I left happy. Great burger & beer. If you dig the sports-bar vibe, I'd recommend! Near neat downtown murals in Phoenix."
"Nice place with a lot of history in downtown Glendale. They offer some great food items and the margaritas were awesome. If you get a chance the next time you're in downtown Glendale stop in. Enjoy the outside seating like we did for people watching."
"The staff is incredibly friendly. The service and the food was good!!!! Get yourself a dirty dog!!!"
"The bartender, Patty, was the best.. so personal and on top of everything. Tacos were some of the best we've ever had, and their fajitas were delicious! We'll be back, for sure. Thank you, La Perla"

Negative Reviews:

"My wife and I went in Saturday 4-13-24. We waited five min. To get seated. We chose our seats. The server bartender came over and took or drink order and returned. Took of food order and returned with that. Never came back! Another couple came in and after five minutes, they walked out. Food was OK at best. SERVICE WAS HORRIBLE! There are much better places in Glendale to eat. Don't think we'll be back."
"There is no way people gave this place 5 stars. The service was horrible despite it being not busy, took over an hour to get mediocre food.... those of us that actually got what we ordered. I'm all for supporting a small business but this isn't it. Save your hard earned money and go somewhere better."
"The food is okay although it was a little high priced for what you got. The service was good, There was a lot of energy in the place, And they have a live band which is really nice but it was only spanish speaking. Nobody there spoke english so that was a little disappointing since I don't speak spanish, and except for the employee's, the people weren't very friendly and I had the impression that it was because I'm a white girl, so that's not good. Also, my phone was stolen, so I won't be going to LaPerla again"

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for La Perla Sports Cantina happened in the October 2023.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Bar Rescue YouTube page.
Here is the La Perla Sports Club website and Facebook page.

They post a lot of Facebook about their upcoming events such as live music.

Here are the reviews for La Perla Sports Club from Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Google.

The bar responds to a lot of the online reviews.

Conclusion:

This was another episode where Jon Taffer was not there for the Bar Rescue, but Dustin Drai and the Bar Rescue crew decided to slightly change the name of La Perla Sports Cantina to La Perla Sports Club and the bar has kept the name. The reviews for La Perla Sports Cantina are a bit mixed, but they seem to be improved from before the makeover. It seems like the bar has a lot of events and live music, so the success of the events may determine how successful the bar is.

47 Social (Finesse Lounge) - Bar Rescue Update

2024-04-06T23:17:00.001-04:00

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Banning, California to rescue Finesse Lounge. The bar is owned by AJ Cabral and the failing bar is causing a rift between him and his sister. While Jon is doing recon, he finds that AJ and the employees do not know how to use their own POS system correctly. Jon needs to help them find a way to save the bar and AJ's relationship with his sister.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Finesse Lounge to 47 Social, but it seems they have gone back to using Finesse Lounge. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Finesse Lounge since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"What a fun spot! Live music and manager Julian made sure there was no wait time on drinks literally perfect"
"Julian is an amazing manager, really appreciate his attentiveness. The music was great and my drinks were just the way I like them"
"Great place, great staff and all around great atmosphere"
"Best drinks in town. And great pool tables"

Negative Reviews:

"Did not like your bar. Very rude bartender. Will not return to your lame ass bar. Tell your bartender working the night of February 17th, 2024 I heard her insulting comments as she went to billiards room"
"I almost never write reviews. This place is very nice but the bartender was drunk! She was all over the place and kept forgetting what we ordered. It was pretty bad. The place is so nice i hope they can get it together. We wont be back"
"I'm not sure what to make of this place. The drinks on their cocktail menu would have been tasty if they weren't pre-mixed. Music was good, but it's not really comfortable to be there. There's a lot of potential, but it needs more TLC."

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Finesse Lounge happened in August 2023.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Bar Rescue YouTube page
Here is the Finesse Lounge Facebook page.

As you can see on their Facebook page, all of their recent advertisements still have Finesse Lounge and the Finesse Lounge logo.
The bar still has the 47 Social signs (video with signs visible) and decorations inside the bar, so they didn't remove those despite still using the name Finesse Lounge.

Here is the Facebook page of AJ (owner)
Here are the reviews for Finesse Lounge from Yelp and Google.

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Finesse Lounge to 47 Social and it seems the bar used both names at first, but everything lately only refers to Finesse Lounge. Despite going by Finesse Lounge, the interior still has the 47 Social signs installed by Bar Rescue. The bar doesn't post much on social media and there haven't been too many reviews since the makeover, but the reviews that are available are mixed. Finesse Lounge definitely isn't trying to take advantage of the publicity of being on Bar Rescue and it seems like it is just business as usual.

Arnold's Lounge - Bar Rescue Update

2024-03-30T23:50:00.002-04:00

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in St. Augustine, Florida to rescue Arnold's Lounge. The bar has been open for many years, and Philip Smith who bought the bar in 2022 is the most recent owner. The bar is supposedly struggling and when Jon Taffer is doing recon, he finds that the bartenders cannot make the most basic drinks correctly. The bar is supposedly losing $20,000 a month and months away from closing while Philip is $3.5 million in debt.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to keep the name of Arnold's Lounge for the bar. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Arnold's Lounge since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"Fantastic place and had a wonderful time. Great Food and Drinks. Friendly service. Waiter named Wolfe was very friendly and attentive. Definitely one of the best places to hangout over the weekend. I would definitely go back."
"We are from Ohio and traveled to FL to see relatives during the holidays. Stumbled upon Arnold's for a drink. Expecting Bar food and got the best steak I have ever ate!!! It was only a ribeye but I'm telling you it was tasty!! And the drinks are pretty good too! Wait Staff is way above standard, Service is quick and courteous!"
"The service was fantastic! The place was very clean! The band was Last Stand Jax and they had the place rocking. The dance floor was packed!"
"I have been coming here since the early 90s, hadn't been in for a few years, we stopped in love the renovation was pleasantly surprised, we had a nice time, bartender was very friendly, we did not get food so I cannot rate that ,drinks were good"
"Great place to meet locals, shoot darts, and enjoy live bands play on the weekend's"
"Awesome find. Thursday Night steak night was great! Steak was very tasty along with the baked potato, green beans and corn. It was also Karaoke night."

Negative Reviews:

"Thought I'd try this place after Bar Rescue had their shot. Well, it looks like the rescue failed miserably. Let's start with being asked to put a credit card on file before ordering anything. Really?? Next, we were informed that only their "fried menu" was available. I wasn't prepared to harden my arteries any more than they were already so my party of four aborted this gamble never to return. What a shame. Great location, lots of history, but substance: ZERO."
"I have been coming to this establishment since the early 80's . I have had great times. I must say that since the bar sold recently, they had had some "bumps" in the road! I am very disappointed in the recent changes. Curtains...in a bar, well my take on them were extremely drab!! The Gator & bench... too touristy. Home town people have been carrying this place for years! Your bartender on Tuesday 12/26 completely ignored the bar that is nearest to the men's restroom. A friend & myself sat for over 15 minutes NO acknowledgment, not even a look in our direction as I raised my hand to try & get his attention. However, to no prevail."
"Enter NEW OWNER - Cheaped out on everything, cancelled Open Mic, and raised drink prices. This time, which was our last time, there were several creepy drunk young guys fighting each other in front of the front door outside of the establishment, where people go out to smoke. Felt like a totally different crowd goes here now. If you like how I described the changes here and its your idea of fun, then have at it..."
"Since the Bar Rescue visit the outside spruced up and inside improvements too . Excited to try the food- ordered Smashburger, and it was not good.. burger patty very small for the price and it came out charred on the outside, making it a not so pleasant choice. The Wings were very average and the chicken tenders were pretty good. Since they are just getting started on the food they have plenty of time to get things turned around.. I love dive bars but we won't return ... if you are there to drink and dance I'm sure the experience is much better"
"Arnolds was so much better under the old owners"

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Arnold's Lounge happened in December 2023.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Bar Rescue YouTube page
Here is the Arnold's Lounge website and Facebook page.
Here are the reviews for Arnold's Lounge from Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Google.

The owner Philip takes time to respond to reviews on the review sites.

In 2022, Philip Smith bought Arnold's Lounge for $2.5 million. The previous sale for the building was $304,000 back in 1990. The liquor license included is a reason why the sale price is so high. (Link)
Here is the Facebook page of Philip (owner)
A bartender who worked at Arnold's Lounge for 19 years, but quit working due to the new owners, commented about Bar Rescue being there. She said the new owners were running it into the ground and she quit well before the Bar Rescue makeover. People in her comments seemed to agree with her sentiment and missed the old Arnold's. (Link)
A Facebook post about Bar Rescue contacting bars in the area to be on the show vs. the bars contacting the show had a lot of comments. The comments on this post also seemed to complain about the new owners and how they treated employees and customers. (Link)

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to keep the name of Arnold's Lounge and the reviews for the bar have been mixed since the makeover. It seems that a lot of people are not happy with the new ownership which has caused both employees and patrons to talk negatively about Arnold's Lounge. Since people are resistant to change, this could be a reason that people do not like the new owners changing things, but for the bar to succeed, they will need to find a common ground.

Cinco Cantina (High 5 Grille) - Bar Rescue Update

2024-03-23T21:50:00.000-04:00

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Tucson, Arizona to rescue High 5 Grille. The bar is owned by Cathy Whaley, who has owned it since 2019. While doing recon, Jon finds that the walk in cooler does not work properly and it is about 85 degrees in the cooler. There is beer and food being stored in there, so Jon does not want anybody eating the food. He also finds that the bar hasn't served draft beer in about a month because of the walk in being broken.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to change the name of High 5 Grille to Cinco Cantina and the bar did keep the name, however they closed before the episode ever aired. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Cinco Cantina since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"Well what a surprise! Stopped in to what I expected to be a dark and just OK but conveniently located sports bar while waiting for laundry next door. Wow... the place has been rebranded ! Beer was cold. Food was good (even though my med well burger was definitely well done). Service was excellent! My only complaint is that I wanted to watch football but there is a live band. I'll definitely try again another night!. Well done ownership/managers!"
"It has a new look! Had the Philly Cheese Steak and watched football. The server and Andy the bartender were great!"

Negative Reviews:

"Always seen High 5 but never went in, heard about the renovations and decided to give this place a shot. Inside was like your typical neighborhood bar. The food was ok but nothing to rave about and the drinks were decent water was from the tap. Not a bad place to hang but nothing stood out that would make me want to come back over famous Sam's."

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for High 5 Grille happened in November 2023.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Bar Rescue YouTube page
Here is the Cinco Cantina website and Facebook page.

Their drink menu on their old website was updated after the show and listed draft beer and some Bar Rescue cocktails. (Link)
Cathy said they modified some things Bar Rescue put on the menu to make it cheaper and also removed the taquitos due to complaints. (Link)

Here is the Facebook page of Cathy (owner)
Here are the reviews for Cinco Cantina from Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Google.

Cathy responds to the reviews on each site.

Cinco Cantina announced it was closing at the beginning of January, just a few months after the makeover. Cathy posted on the Cinco Cantina Facebook page, "It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I must inform you that Cinco Cantina has closed its doors as of January 3rd, 2024. I want to thank all of my loyal customers for your patronage and support over the last few years. I have met so many great people and made some wonderful and lasting friendships. I will miss all of you but I know I will see some of you around town. Please continue to support all local area businesses. They rely on you to keep their doors open. Love you all! Cathy"
A local article said that a notice was left on the front door stating that the landlord has taken "repossession" of the building. They posted a photo of the landlord lien sign which said, "Pursuant to ARS 33-361(A) these premises have been lawfully locked by the landlord and landlord has taken repossession. All non-exempt personal property belonging to tenant has been seized pursuant to ARS Section 33.361(D) and 33.362. Any unauthorized entry hereto shall be considered an illegal entry under Arizona Revised Statutes 13.1502(A)(1) and shall subject the violator to arrest and criminal prosecution. Any person needing to gain access to these premises should contact the landlord/property manager."

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to change the name of High 5 Grille to Cinco Cantina and the bar did keep the name up until they closed. The bar closed just a few months after the Bar Rescue visit and it closed because of money owed to the landlord. The landlord repossessed the building and took possession of everything in it, including any updates done by Bar Rescue. Because Cinco Cantina closed so close to the renovations, there weren't too many reviews and they weren't able to take advantage of any publicity from being on the show. Cinco Cantina has been marked as 'Closed' on the Bar Rescue Updates page.

The Foxy Ox (Thirsty Ox) - Bar Rescue Update

2024-03-16T22:54:00.000-04:00

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, the show is in Oxnard, California to rescue The Thirsty Ox. Rony Ortega and his wife Gaby bought the bar in 2021 to fulfil his lifelong dream of owning a bar. Despite it being Rony's dream, Gaby is the one that is there every day running the bar. The Thirty Ox is supposedly losing up to $4,000 a month causing Rony and Gaby to be about $50,000 in debt. The bar is supposedly six months away from closing and is causing Rony and Gaby to put having kids on hold.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Bar Rescue decided to change the name of The Thirsty Ox to The Foxy Ox, however the bar has switched back to The Thirsty Ox. Lets take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for The Foxy Ox since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"I have lived in Oxnard the majority of my life and my first time visiting here was on this past Saturday. Mariah was our bartender and she was so sweet. Her music choices were good and the overall vibes of the bar were great. I will definitely be back"
"Was remodeled as part of a TV show. Only bar I know with APA Diamond tables. Friendly staff a clientele. It's earned its place as a part of Oxnard history. The locals have been very welcoming. Very cool people. TV's all around for sports and I love the L shape of the bar that the cutest bartendresses can walk in. You'll see. Have fun."
"Great music, love the decor, staff, excellent place."

Negative Reviews:

"It is now FOXY OX after remodel but I see no difference"
"Check your bank statement for correct charge. New design lots of tvs for sports"

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for The Thirsty Ox happened in August 2023.
The bar changed their name from The Foxy Ox back to Thirsty Ox within a month after the Bar Rescue makeover. They said the customers and staff didn't like the name and it didn't match the bar's theme.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Bar Rescue YouTube page
Here is The Thirsty Ox Facebook page and they do not post much.
Here are the reviews for The Thirsty Ox from Yelp and Google.
Here is the Facebook page of Rony (owner)
A local article about the upcoming episode said they applied to be on the show about a year ago and were initially denied, but they were later contacted by producers. The article also said that Jon Taffer was not with the film crew when they did the makeover in August and Phil Wills was the one providing the criticism.

The Ortegas were happy with the work done, but still have work to do with replacing the floors.

Conclusion:

Bar Rescue decided to change the name of The Thirsty Ox to The Foxy Ox and the bar switched back to their original name within a month. There aren't too many reviews since the makeover, but the few reviews were somewhat positive and the reviews before the makeover were positive as well. As it was described on the show, there are a lot of regulars that frequent the bar and it seems that is still the case. It seems like this rescue wasn't like the normal rescues done on the show as Jon Taffer was not there. This may be the reason why people said not much changed and the reason the bar switched back to their old name.

Skybox Ultra Sports Lounge (Hogwash Saloon) - Bar Rescue Update

2024-03-10T00:00:00.000-05:00

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Fountain Hills, Arizona to rescue Hogwash Saloon. In February 2023, Jason Reinke decided to buy the bar he was patronizing for years. Now that he is the owner, he is still acting like a patron and doesn't know how to run the bar. Hogwash Saloon is supposedly losing $3,000 a month and Jason is in danger of losing the bar and his friends.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Hogwash Saloon to Skybox Ultra Sports Lounge and the bar has kept the name. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Skybox Ultra Sports Lounge since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Reviews:

There were only 2 reviews since the makeover and they both didn't provide any text. One was a 2-star review and the other was a 3-star review.

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Hogwash Saloon happened in October 2023.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Bar Rescue YouTube page
Here is the Skybox Ultra Sports Lounge Facebook page.
Skybox Ultra Sports Lounge is having a watch party at the bar for the episode. (Link)

A recent post about the watch party said that food is coming to the bar soon and that they will have pizza and spring rolls for the watch party. (Link)

Here are the Facebook pages of Jason (owner), Misha (bartender), and Chaela (bartender).
Here are the reviews for Skybox Ultra Sports Lounge from Google.

There aren't many reviews online and they don't have any on Yelp or TripAdvisor. A big reason is probably because they do not serve any food.

Someone posted on Facebook during the stress test - "they wonder why they are going under the owner never owns up and takes blame. Can’t wait to watch the show to see him deny everything going wrong with this place." (Facebook comment)

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Hogwash Saloon to Skybox Ultra Sports Lounge and the bar has kept the name. It seems the bar is more of a dive bar and they do not offer any food. This is probably the reason why they do not have any reviews online, which makes it hard to see how they are doing. The fact that there aren't reviews months after a Bar Rescue visit doesn't seem too promising. Skybox Ultra Sports Lounge said they plan to offer food soon, so we will see how that goes and if there is more chatter online after that.

Bay Street Sports Grill (Wildkat Records Bar & Grill) - Bar Rescue Update

2024-03-03T00:08:00.002-05:00

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Jacksonville, Florida to rescue Wildkat Records Bar & Grill. The bar is owned by Julian Garbaccio who bought the bar in 2015. The bar was initially a success but Julian's job relocated him to Texas, which pulled him away from the bar. Without Julian around, sales started to decline and he brought in a managing partner Kyle. Kyle was the one who changed the name to Wildkat Records Bar & Grill and Julian thinks that is part of the reason for the decline. Julian is now supposedly $300,000 in debt and the bar is in danger of closing.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Wildkat Records Bar & Grill to Bay Street Sports Grill and the bar has kept the name. The bar was previously named Bay Street Bar & Grill when Julian purchased it, so the name change was not too drastic. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Bay Street Sports Grill since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"Great little bar. The service was okay. We came back a few nights to play pool. We had a good time."
"Wings were A+ highly recommended. The drink selection is great, and the service is top. The bar and pool tables is where is at. Why 4 stars? All our chicken strips were salty, so I will comeback to update this place. Great atmosphere and plenty of seating. Parking is on the street or use the público parking building in from of the Hyatt hotel ."
"Cool sports bar with great beer selection and wing sauce, try the Thai Chili"
"We love this place!!! So eclectic. We're more into hole in wall places than fancy. And the food is so yummy and great price!"
"It was great first time there after Bar rescue has done there thing. Food was great. There shrimp was different but was really tasty. An megan the bartender never let's u go without something to drink. If u are near Jacksonville it's a must try."
"A great bar and grill in the downtown area. The staff make you feel right at home, and the weekly specials are always great!"

Negative Reviews:

"This establishment uses SHADY TACTICS to coerce patrons into undeserved TIPPING"
"Charging for water while ordering other drinks is absurd. Even more absurd is a bartender being surprised when a customer isn’t happy about it"
"Way understaffed. Waited an hour + for food to come out. Never got a 2nd round due to line. Burgers were ok but other food came out cold. Felt bad for the one guy working the floor/bar."
"We came here the afternoon of a Jags game and they had one guy behind the bar taking food and drink orders and one person in the kitchen. They didn't have any waiters to help out and we sat there for 40 minutes and didn't see a single plate of food come out of the kitchen so we walked out. It's a very bizarre business model."
"Food like fast food and extremely dry and dull very very pricey"
"Food was greasy and lacked appeal. Basic frozen food dropped in some warm grease. Drinks were strong and staff was cool."

*Reviews from Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Wildkat Records Bar & Grill happened in November 2023.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Bar Rescue YouTube page.
Here is the Bay Street Sports Grill website and Facebook page.
They are having a watch party for the episode and they seem to be having fun with it by saying, "Come watch Jon Taffer get all pissy with us. Bar Rescue party at Bay Street Sports Grill this Sunday." (Link)
Here are the Facebook pages of Julian (owner), Kyle (managing partner), Jasmine (general manager)

Jasmine commented about the episode on her Facebook page saying, "We got a free face lift so we endured. We weren’t really struggling, they just made us pretend like we were. It was an interesting experience to say the least." (Link)

Here are the reviews for Bay Street Sports Grill from Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Google.

The recent reviews before the makeover were pretty negative.
The bar takes the time to respond to reviews on Google.

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Wildkat Records Bar & Grill to Bay Street Sports Grill and the bar has kept the name. Bar Rescue pretty much changed the name back to what it was previously, so no surprise they kept the name. The reviews since the makeover are mixed with people liking the wings and the dive bar feel. The negative reviews seem to complain about the service and that they are understaffed. Based on the comments from the general manager, it seems like the bar decided to do the show for the free makeover and not because they were struggling.

Natalie's Bar and Grill (Skip and Jan's) - Bar Rescue Update

2024-02-25T00:00:00.003-05:00

Photo - Facebook

In the season 9 premiere episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Gilbert, Arizona to rescue Skip and Jan's Sports Grill. The bar is owned by Natalie Phyllis who originally worked at the bar and then decided to purchase it with her husband. Natalie had to step away from the bar for a bit due to a divorce and the bar has gone downhill with no leadership. During recon, Jon thinks the kitchen is one of the worst he has ever seen. The fryers are filthy and there are cockroaches in the kitchen.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Skip and Jan's to Natalie's Bar and Grill and the bar has kept the name. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Natalie's Bar and Grill since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"I love this place. Been there a few times, shot some pool with some friends. The food is great, and the atmosphere is fun!"
"Been here 2 times in a week because we were very happy with our first experience! Went here for the first time on a Sunday and it was pretty empty, but service was great and food was good. I got a grilled cheese and fries (so it's not that impressive but at least it tasted like a good grilled cheese and the fries were on point lol). They have a lot of pool tables in a separate room from the bar area. 2nd time was a Thurs and they had karaoke going on the bar side and the pool table side wasn't overpowered with the noise. Very cool place. We will be regulars soon lol"
"Great place really good food and amazing staff. Lots of TV's, and inexpensive drinks. Lots of beers on tap for beer drinkers"
"Love this place ! the turkey bacon wrap is my favorite! They always have a dive bar atmosphere but with great food and drinks which is the best combo !"
"I love this place!! It's now called Natalie's but same owner as Skip and Jans!! This will always be my favorite local watering hole! Great food and great service! Bar Rescue remodeled everything, and it looks great! So happy the owner Natalie stayed, she's the best!!!"
"This place was cool. A little divey. But the service was good and the pool hall was nice. **Edit*** this place had a massive makeover. No longer what it used to be. It has changed for the better. Anything you knew from before erase from your mind and go back and check the new place out! The owner, Natalie is so real, so sweet... she really wants the best for everyone she comes across"
"I found this on a whim and so glad I did. Fun neighborhood bar with good food and plenty of pool tables. I'll definitely be back!"
"Great bar and an even nicer owner! It was my first time there and impressed with the look and atmosphere inside"

Negative Reviews:

"Place isn't bad inside , not super loud , food isn't bad , but SERVICE IS AWFUL !!! Rudddddddde bartender trying to work by herself, crazy attitude ; no manners at all ! I said thank you multiple times for her to not say a word in all my years of going out never ever have I ran into a ruder employee for no reason ! Seemed friendly enough to "Dan" and other regulars but I guess because I'm not a local bar fly we weren't valued in the same way !"
"If you are not a regular do not come here. came here on a Saturday. sat for 20 minutes waiting to get served and they weren't even busy. and the tacos were so greasy thought I was at jack in the box. and if no one pays for music it will be dead silent in the bar, how weird?"
"If you're coming to sing and you're NOT a regular, DON'T COME. There is no rhyme or reason to the order that Sid Riddle chooses. But regulars sing at least 50% more. Three and a half hours here, $15 tip, and I've sang once even though it is dead."
"Same service when it was Skip & Jan's, terrible. They do need more servers on the floor as it takes forever for any type of service. Food, still bar food that isn't special. The place looks the same but they took out the pool table out of the bar and added more seating. Bathrooms are filthy and just need to be cleaned and repainted. Simple things the owners could take care of in a day at a low cost. Not a spot I would recommend unless you use their pool room. The owners could do more and I thought bar rescue came in to help. Cheap drinks is what has people coming in and pool tournaments."

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Skip and Jan's happened in October 2023.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Bar Rescue YouTube page. There is also another preview video from the Bar Rescue Facebook page.
Here is the Natalie's Bar and Grill Facebook page, which doesn't post too often.
Here are the reviews for Natalie's Bar and Grill from Yelp and Google.

The bar takes the time to respond to reviews on Google.

Shortly after the makeover, Natalie's brought back their old menu. (Link)

In response to a Google review about the menu, Natalie's responded, "We’re back! Our menu is back! We tried that other menu but to your point it didn’t work for who we are. I appreciate the feedback, and I hope you’ll give us another chance."

Natalie said people thought her name was Jan since she was at the bar so long and it was named Skip and Jan's. (Link)
Here are the Facebook pages of Natalie (owner), Kenzie (Bartender), Kaycie (Cook/Natalie's son), Kyerstin (bartender), Michelle (bartender)
The bar is having a watch party for the episode. (Link)
Locals who were talking about the Bar Rescue makeover on Reddit said not much was changed from the show. (Link)

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Skip and Jan's Sports Bar to Natalie's Bar and Grill and the bar has kept the name. The reviews since the makeover are a bit mixed with people liking the food and atmosphere. People also seem to like the owner Natalie and pool seems to be popular at the bar. The negative reviews seem to complain about service and that the bar seems to cater to regulars. Bar Rescue usually doesn't touch the bathrooms at a bar and it seems people still have complaints that they are still dirty. Overall, the reviews seem to have improved a little since the makeover and that people are rooting for Natalie to succeed. The update at the end of the show said that Julio was hired back and is working in the kitchen again.

Oak Tavern (Bullpen) Owner from Bar Rescue Charged With Murder - Bar is Closed

2024-02-23T22:32:00.001-05:00

Danny Serafini, who appeared on season 4 (3rd set) of Bar Rescue was arrested in October 2023 and charged with the murder of his father-in-law. There was a shooting in 2021 that left his father-in-law dead and his mother-in-law severely wounded. The case went cold for a few years until police arrested Danny Serafini and Samantha Scott who was his former nanny. Video surveillance of the father-in-law's home showed a hooded man wearing a face covering and a backpack prior to the killing.

Danny and Samantha waived their right to a speedy trial and the preliminary hearing is not set to begin until May 2024. It is not clear what additional evidence the police have against the two, but that will be revealed in court and a judge will decide if the case should move forward. Many assume money was a motive, but we will have to see what the evidence reveals. Both Danny and Samantha have pleaded not guilty in the case.

Danny's wife Erin and her sister Adrienne have apparently been battling in court over the family inheritance. Erin has accused Adrienne of elder abuse and claimed that she manipulated their mother when she was vulnerable after the shooting. Adrienne filed a wrongful death lawsuit accusing her sister Erin of involvement in her parents' deaths, along with Danny. It appears this is a messy situation overall and we will have to see how everything plays out.

You may recall from the Bar Rescue episode that Danny was a former MLB pitcher and was once suspended 50 games for testing positive for steroids. During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer renamed his bar from The Bullpen at Aspen Glen to Oak Tavern and the bar did keep the name (link to detailed update). Oak Tavern appeared on the show in 2015 and it appears they closed sometime around early 2022 based on online reviews. Oak Tavern has been marked as 'Closed' on the Bar Rescue Updates Page.

This is now the 2nd time an owner that has appeared on Bar Rescue has been charged with murder. The owner of Pit and Barrel was convicted of murder after shooting somebody in his bar (Link). The murder happened shortly before the Pit and Barrel episode was to air and Spike TV tried to remove the episode, but mistakenly aired the encore episode.

Leia's (The Grant Bar) From Bar Rescue Has Closed

2024-02-10T22:18:00.000-05:00

Leia's (formerly The Grant Bar) in Tracy, California, which appeared on season 7 of Bar Rescue has closed. The bar closed in May 2022 when Tracy City Council voted to revoke the permit that allowed Leia's to stay open after 11pm. Rather than operate a bar that had to close at 11pm, owners D.J. Miller and Tammy Ramirez decided to close.

Tracy City Council voted 4-0 to revoke the license citing a bar where there were always fights and bouncers used excessive force. In a local article, the police department listed incidents that included: "one where a patron was hit in the face with a sharp object, requiring 140 stitches, people injured in fights or while being ejected from the bar after causing trouble, and a 2020 incident that involved a man reportedly stabbing others, including a bar employee, during a fight at the bar. He was pursued to a nearby hotel by another patron and was beaten to unconsciousness. The victim was taken to a hospital and later succumbed to his injuries." The police officer at the council meeting said, "That is a homicide. That’s about as serious as it gets." The suspect in that case plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter (Link).

The police also found footage that showed a security guard working at the bar firing his firearm while trying to disperse an unruly crowd. This wasn't reported to police and was only discovered while reviewing surveillance video for another investigation.

Leia's owners D.J. Miller and Tammy Ramirez agreed there was trouble at their bar, but thought it was nothing out of the ordinary for a place with crowds and alcohol. They said they always cooperated with police and their bouncers were never charged with anything. However, this did not sway the Tracy City Council in their vote.

The Grant Bar first appeared on Bar Rescue in April 2020 and the bar was renovated by the show in September 2019 where it was renamed Leia's (Link to update). The bar did keep the new name up until it closed in May 2022. The Leia's website and Facebook page have been deactivated and Leia's has been marked as 'Closed' on the Bar Rescue Updates page.

New Season of Bar Rescue Starts February 25th

2024-02-01T15:48:00.000-05:00

It was announced today that new Bar Rescue episodes will return to Paramount Network on Sunday, February 25th with season 9 of the show starting. Jon Taffer made the announcement on social media and Variety also had an article about the upcoming season. Some of the locations for the upcoming season include Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, Texas, and Wisconsin. A preview of season 9 of Bar Rescue is below:

As always, I will have updates for each of the bars that appear on the show, so make sure to visit the website after each episode airs.

Latitudes Island Bar & Grille - Bar Rescue Update

2023-06-10T22:35:00.002-04:00

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Denver, North Carolina to rescue Latitude's Bar & Grill. The bar was opened in 2019 by Patti and Steve Merkel. Patti always dreamed of opening a business and Steve was able to help fund it due to a sale of his previous cookie business. Patti is at the bar 7 days a week, while Steve tries to stay away as much as possible. Their son Travis takes on a lot of roles at the bar and butts heads with Patti. Steve has put about $275,000 into Latitude and the bar is supposedly losing $3,500 a month.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to slightly change the name of Latitudes Bar & Grill to Latitudes Island Bar & Grille. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Latitudes Island Bar & Grille since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"Food was good, but the menu items were not always available. The phone mailbox was full so I went to the restaurant only to discover the ingredients for what I wanted to order were unavailable. Service was fine. It has been remodeled and has a pleasant atmosphere."
"Stopped in for a late lunch. The food and service were outstanding. I had their mushroom swiss burger. Hands down one of the best burgers I've had. It was nicely seasoned, juicy, large, and very flavorful. My girl had the smoked pork sandwich and that was equally tasty and filling. We would highly recommend this establishment."
"Improved since our last visit. Food was good, not exceptional. I had the Reuben and fries which was good. Friendly service and nice drink selection available."
"Jessica was our bartender/server and she did an amazing job! She asks your name and makes sure that you are satisfied throughout your visit. The atmosphere is so cute and the food was great, fresh and portions were good. We’ll definitely be back."
"Good food with a nice atmosphere. The waitress and host were friendly and attentive. They even went as far to make sure we had a fresh cookie at the end of dinner. Will be going back soon."
"Amazing food, cool people and good cocktails...Recommend it"

Negative Reviews:

"Worst service I've ever experienced. Waited well over an hour for food at 1:30 pm. The staff was very rude and imcompetent. Avoid this place at all costs."
"this place was better prior to their remodel. they don't have enough help. food service is slow and wait service is very slow. i don't know if they can't afford to hire more wait staff, can't get more wait staff, don't know how to train the wait staff they have or if they just don't care."
"We were forgotten outside. We watched one other person outside and others inside who arrived after us order, eat, and leave before us. It was blamed on being slammed, but the inside looked half full at best. Left cash for drinks and app, and won't be coming back."

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Latitudes Island Bar & Grille happened in August 2022.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Bar Rescue YouTube page
Here is the Latitudes Island Bar & Grill website and Facebook page.
Due to the slight name change, it seems like they use Latitudes Bar and Grill, Latitudes Island Bar & Grille and Latitudes interchangeably.
The bar has been counting down on Facebook to their episode airing and they have commented to people that they will love the new Bar Rescue drinks and menu items.
Here are the Facebook pages of Patti (owner) Shonnel (bartender)
This is the season finale and when Patti learned they were going to be the season finale, she said, "When the producers told me I’m going to be the finale, I thought to myself: ‘Either we’re that bad or they saved the best for last." She also said, "We’re very happy with all the changes that are in place,” Merkel said. “We’re doing really great now." (Link)
The cookie company that Steve co-owned with his brother was called the Chippery and they specialed in frozen cookie doughs. They were bought in 2005 and in 2002 they had $23.7 million in net revenue while in 2004 they had $34.5 million in net revenue. (Link)

Based on SEC filings, it looks like they were purchased for $37,105,000. (Link)

Here are the reviews for Latitudes Island Bar & Grille from Yelp and Google.

The bar takes time to respond to reviews on Google.

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to slightly change the name of Latitudes Bar & Grill to Latitudes Island Bar & Grill. The bar seems so use both names and also refers to themselves as just Latitudes. The reviews for Latitudes Island Bar & Grille are mixed with people liking the food and drinks while there are some complaints about service. Based on comments from Patti, she is very happy with the changes and they are doing great now. They also seemed to have kept the Bar Rescue drinks and menu items and are still serving them at Latitudes. The cookie business Steve founded with his brother sold for $37.1 million back in 2005, so they are probably not struggling financially as much as other people that have appeared on the show.

Dave's Firehouse (Firehouse Sports Pub) - Bar Rescue Update

2023-06-04T13:11:00.001-04:00

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Nampa, Idaho to rescue Firehouse Sports Pub. The bar was opened in 2008 by Dave Olsen, who used his retirement savings to open the pub. The fireman theme was created because his younger brother and friends are firefighters. Dave has had to step away from the bar, so he hasn't been there a lot to oversee operations. The bar is supposedly losing $3,000 a month, Dave is in $300,000 worth of debt, and the bar is in danger of closing in two months.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Firehouse Sports Pub to Dave's Firehouse. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Dave's Firehouse since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"The specialty drinks were great. Prices were pretty decent. Service was a bit...awkward, but not bad. The girl just seemed really nervous and almost scared to do her job."
"Good place to get beer at a good price. Had the aces game on. Good waitress. Wish they had wings."
"This place is pretty big and open. Pool tables, darts, painting classes on occasion. The staff was pleasant and there is a taco truck outside which is always amazing. Pretty neat place to go grab a drink."
"Nice side street bar with pool tables and electronic darts."
"Haven't been out in years and this was the place to go, very nice pool tables."

Negative Reviews:

"Great spot to shoot some billiards, not overly great for bar service. There is also a food area that has no hours posted and has not been open the last three times I've been so I'm not sure when or if it is even an actual place to get food. I mostly come here for the pool tables, which are long in the tooth after the "bar rescue" not sure that they really rescued this place or just put some lipstick on a pig."
"Saturday noon doors locked, the establishment next door packed, 2nd time this place wasn't open as advertised done trying."
"Bar tender we had, did nothing but complain about us wanting to watch a BSU game that they advertised would be on, on their Facebook page, they were finally able to get it on one TV with no sound. She then wouldn't serve us anymore just because we told her that they shouldn't have advertised it if they couldn't show the game, It is supposed to be a sports bar. All the other customer's that were there to watch the game were treated poorly also, she was very vocal and rude about it!"

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Dave's Firehouse happened in the middle of 2022.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Bar Rescue Facebook page. Here is another preview clip from YouTube.
Here is the Dave's Firehouse Facebook page.
In their page intro, they have "Nampa's hottest place to be! Non Smoking, Jukebox, Dancing, Pool tables, Darts, Sports TV, BSU games."
The bar is hosting a watch party for the episode and patrons can sample Bar Rescue cocktails and there will be a Q and A with owner and staff. (Link)
Dave's Firehouse doesn't serve food, but there is a Mexican food truck right next to the bar that people get food from.
In Feb 2023, the bar asked people what was the best and worst about the bar and people seemed to agree that the staff was the best part of the bar. (Link)
The bar has said the makeover is "absolutely beautiful" and teased a secret that would be revealed. (Link)
Here are the Facebook pages of Dave (owner), Victoria (owner), M'Lisa (bartender)
Here are the reviews for Dave's Firehouse from Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Google.

There were a lot of 1-star reviews on Yelp before the makeover.

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Firehouse Sports Pub to Dave's Firehouse and the bar has kept the name. There weren't too many reviews for Dave's Firehouse since the makeover despite it being almost a year ago. The reviews seem to say it is a good place for a beer and to play pool and reviews about service are mixed. The owner Dave seems happy with the makeover and called it absolutely beautiful. Dave's Firehouse does not serve any food, but there is a Mexican food truck that is right outside.

VFW Post 9644 - Bar Rescue Update

2023-05-28T10:20:00.003-04:00

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Sheridan, Colorado to rescue VFW Post 9644. This episode is meant to coincide with Memorial Day in the United States. VFW Post 9644 has seen membership decrease like many other VFW's around the country and they are hoping to turn things around. There will be a new post commander and they would like to satisfy the older members of the VFW while bringing in some new younger members.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer obviously didn't change the name of VFW Post 9644. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for VFW Post 9644 since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"It's somewhere familiar even when you've never been here before. Welcoming and instant family connections with people with similar history."
"Very welcoming! Good Sunday brunch at a reasonable prices. We'll be back."
"It's a really nice place for veterans to go to a have fun with your friends and family there have game night on Thursday"

Negative Reviews:

None

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for VFW Post 9644 happened in the middle of 2022.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Bar Rescue YouTube page.
Here is the website of VFW Post 9644 and a public Facebook group.
They are having a watch party at the VFW Post for the episode.
Here are the Facebook pages of Paul, Ron, Todd (post commander), and Rob
Here are the reviews for VFW Post 9644 from Google.

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer obviously decided to keep the name of VFW Post 9644 as he has done with all the previous VFW makeovers. There aren't too many reviews for VFW Post 9644 but they are all positive and mention a welcoming environment. It seems they are happy with the makeover as they are sharing the previews and are having a watch party at the bar. As this makeover was for a non-profit organization and not a failing bar, VFW Post 9644 will not be included in the Bar Rescue statistics on the Bar Rescue Updates page.