Playoffs Sports Lounge - Bar Rescue Update

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  The bar is outdated and it has no systems in place such as a POS system.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):

La Perla Sports Club (Cantina) - Bar Rescue Update

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):

47 Social (Finesse Lounge) - Bar Rescue Update

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):

Arnold's Lounge - Bar Rescue Update

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):

Cinco Cantina (High 5 Grille) - Bar Rescue Update

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):

The Foxy Ox (Thirsty Ox) - Bar Rescue Update

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):

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

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):

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

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):

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

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):

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

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.