Bar Rescue - Downstairs Bar + Kitchen (State Pub) Update

On tonight's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Englewood, Colorado to try to rescue State Pub (St8 Pub). State pub is supposedly $35,000 in debt with $25,000 from rent and $10,000 from a loan.  After 13 months of not paying rent to his landlord, owner Sean supposedly has five weeks to pay in full or be shut down for good.  His drunken behavior is supposedly causing a decline at the bar and is driving customers away.  Also during recon, Jon Taffer sees some unsanitary food being made in the kitchen.

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



Positive Reviews:

• "My favorite neighborhood bar. Great staff and food, best bar for beer options in the area."
• "Free pool, excellent beer, awesome staff. Need I say more? It's a blast. "
• "Cool little dive bar with a surprising beer and cider selection and a neat retro basement theme done by the TV show Bar Rescue. They have a decent mixed drink list, a pool table, and retro board games to play."
• "Great little neighborhood bar. Friendly staff and outrageous craft brew selection for an establishment this size."

Negative Reviews:

• "Sean the owner is the reason we will never go back. We saw bar rescue there as we are also neighborhood locals...Our service was pathetic. I ordered one round and didn't see or hear from anyone for at least 40 minutes. I had to stick it out as we were meeting people there. My cousin was hit on by a very drunk Sean. When her man found out about it and asked that she be left alone they were asked to leave for being "too intoxicated" She had one shot and he doesn't drink.....Bar rescue can't fix you!!! Basically your the bars only problem. Everything else regulars for the most part have patience for. You are a bully. So.... Does this mean I'm 86'd too? At least I have videos of you screaming at customers."
• "The owner of this bar is simply a terrible person. My friend gave him a bad review a year ago, tried to give them a 2nd chance and was kicked out for giving a bad review. He threatened to call the cops on us for posting a bad review. At the time I worked at a local bar in Englewood and he called my boss to tell on me for a consumer review. Many of my friends have had terrible experiences with him. Shawn, bar rescue cant fix the type of person you are, I hope no one gives this guy any of their money. "

*Reviews from Yelp, Google+, Facebook

Other News and Links:

• The Bar Rescue makeover happened in August 2016.
• Here are two preview videos of the episode from the Spike TV website - Video 1, Video 2.
• Here is the Downstairs Bar + Kitchen Facebook Page and they are having a viewing party for the episode.
• Here is the Downstairs Bar + Kitchen website and here is the old State Pub website that is still active. 
• Here are the Facebook pages of Caitlin (bartender), Zoe (former bartender), and Pam (Sean's mother).
• Right after the makeover, the bar posted, "State Pub is officially Downstairs Bar + Kitchen. Can't delve too much into details but we went under a MASSIVE renovation this week. Better food, same great Colorado beers and full bar. Prices are still amazing and so is the staff. Come see the new us!"
• A few days later the bar posted, "That time the sketchy bar down the street starting writing bullshit reviews because of their fear and jealousy. With great success comes great responsibility. The last week made me a more patient, compassionate and organized owner. Learned a lot and still soaking more in. If you or anyone else you know were ever wronged or treated poorly at my establishment give me/us a second chance. My being tired or grumpy isn't an excuse for being treated poorly and I've changed my ways. I have a great staff helping me get this place in order and easing my mind and spirit and I love them. We all deserve a second chance and I'm putting my cards on the table, becoming humble and appreciative and love this business more than most things in life. I'm blessed to own a business and lost sight of that and I'm truly sorry. Englewood is my home and I love it here. Fresh start, fresh look, fresh business. Let's do it!!"
• Here are the Yelp reviews of State Pub before the makeover and they are mostly positive.  There is a negative review about Sean that he responds to.
• A local website did a post about Downstairs Bar + Kitchen being on Bar Rescue and a few ex-employees had some bad things to say about Sean on Facebook, stating:
• "I used to work there and Sean is the most disrespected person I have ever met in my entire life. He stole my tips, changed my punches so I made less, paid me under the table so I couldn't contest anything. I've seen him scream at people, start physical fights, and use everyone from his mom (who is a saint), to his in house chef/cook (also an amazing human being). He's a disgusting person and owes everyone he's betrayed and apology!"
• "this is exactly why I quit" 
• " I used babysit him just like Caitlin is doing and it gets old really fast!"
• "I have so much disdain for that man, the fact that he even got on this show sickens me. He doesn't deserve this kind of goodness. He needs to apologize to everyone he's betrayed, screamed at, or even gotten physical with. Ughhh"
• Someone posted on the Bar Rescue Facebook page right after the makeover stating, "So you rescue bars? In the process stage fights, stage staff and stage customers? What a FUCKN joke! You recently came to my home town saved a little bar called State Pub! The bar was not needing saving! Thebar needs a new owner plain and simple! Sean the owner drugged me and 86'd me because I wouldn't sleep with him! I have others who have dealt with this FUCKN drunk in the same manner! You are pathetic who coming to this close knit community to save a piece of shit like this place and owner."

Conclusion:

The bar has kept the name of Downstairs Bar + Kitchen given to them by Bar Rescue and the reviews of the bar are mostly positive with people liking the beer options.  The negative reviews seem to have complaints about the owner Sean.   It seems like Sean has a bad reputation and even past employees have spoken out about how bad he was to work for.  Sean did post right after the makeover that he learned a lot from Bar Rescue and if people were treated poorly in the past, that he wanted a second chance.  With the reviews mostly positive before and after the makeover, it seems like Sean being able to change may be the key to turning things around.

UPDATE - Downstairs Bar + Kitchen closed in August 2017 - More info on closure.

*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.