The Never Before Seen 'Bar Rescue' Pilot Airs Sunday

This Sunday on Spike TV, the first ever episode of Bar Rescue that was filmed will be airing for the first time on TV.  Jon Taffer is at a New Jersey bar, where the owner has a habit of kicking out both customers and employees.

Spike TV has been airing this 15 second ad for the show, and there has also been a lot of chatter on social media about it.  Many people thought that when they saw a "lost" Bar Rescue episode would be airing that it would be the Music City Mess episode.  That was the Bar Rescue episode that was pulled after the bar owner killed someone at the bar just days before it was scheduled to air.  That episode accidentally aired once on Spike TV, but has not aired since. 

So if you are interested in seeing the first ever Bar Rescue filmed and seeing how much has changed since, be sure to tune in to Spike TV this Sunday at 8pm ET.  As a bonus, you get to see Jon Taffer rocking bowling shirts (pictured) and with a little more hair on his head.  Look for the update for the bar appearing in the episode to be posted here on Sunday.

Bar Rescue - Houston Sports Hub (End Zone) Update

Tonight on the season finale of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Houston, Texas to try to rescue End Zone Sports Bar and Grill.  The bar and the kitchen in the End Zone is filthy and the beer they are serving the customers is sour.  The bar is owned by two "muscle-bound meatheads" who get in a fight with each other during the recon.  Two other female employees also get into a fight while the bar is under surveillance.  Despite all of the fighting, Jon Taffer still goes through with the rescue and makes over the bar.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, End Zone Sports Bar and Grill was renamed to Houston Sports Hub, and they seem to have kept the name.  Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Houston Sports Hub since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar:

O'Face's Liquor License Renewal Rejected By City Council

Last night at the Council Bluffs, Iowa City Council meeting, the O'Face bar was trying to get their liquor license renewed, and it was rejected by the city council by a vote of 3-2.  There were seven liquor license applications reviewed that night, and O'Face's was the only one rejected.

The three city council members who voted against the renewal said that O'Face's appearance on Bar Rescue put the city in a bad light, and the mayor agreed.  They said the city is suffering as a result of the show and the mayor has received emails from around the country telling him how embarrassing it was for the city.

The mayor told the owner Matthew Overmyer "I understand this is a reality show, but the depiction of this inaccuracy has caused irreparable harm to the city.  This sort of show concerns me that you would hold out this community in a false light.  We all make mistakes, but we have to pay for them.”

Matt said that he has gotten a lot of negative feedback from people and even death threats and apologized for putting Council Bluffs in a bad light.  He was quoted as saying the experience has "been nothing but hell."   Matt plans to appeal the council decision to try to keep his license.

I guess as Jon Taffer would say, SHUT IT DOWN!

The local news is at the bar tonight interviewing employees, so we will see what they have to say tonight after the story airs.  I will do an update to this post or do another post if there is anything interesting said.

(Nonpareilonline)

Bar Rescue - Thirsty's Roadside Bar (Mary's Outpost) Update

On tonight's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Grand Prairie, Texas to try to rescue Mary's Outpost.  Mary's is a struggling dive bar with an owner who is handing out free drinks despite the fact that the bar is struggling.  The owner Bill also crosses the line with one of Jon Taffer's experts and tries to get girls to take their tops off in his back office.  He does this despite his wife working in the bar.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Mary's Outpost was renamed to Thirsty's Roadside Bar.  From the looks of their website/Facebook, it looks like they are going with a combination of the two and will not commit to one name.  Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Thirsty's Roadside Bar since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar:

Bar Rescue's Metal & Lace (Headhunters) Has Closed

Headhunters in Austin, Texas, which was on season 3 of Bar Rescue has closed.  When the bar appeared on Bar Rescue, it was renamed to Metal & Lace, and that name stuck for a bit, but looking at their Facebook page, it seems they reverted to Headhunters on all of their ads/flyers.

During the Headhunters episode, you may remember roaches in liquor bottles, the owner Steve Ricci clashing with Jon Taffer and also not paying his bartenders.  Jon didn't even say goodbye to him after he rescued his bar.

Last night, the Austin Chronicle is reporting that the door was locked and the staff was removing production gear from the stages.  When the owner Steve was asked for a comment he declined "citing legal reasons and a personal hatred for the Chronicle (“sucking cock backwards and only caring about themselves"), then asked me to leave".

Steve said he has nine locations he is considering for a future venue site, and there is speculation that there were issues with keeping his lease after the property was bought.  With Headhunters closing and moving out on the last day of the month, that speculation may be correct.

Looking at the public tax records for mixed beverage receipts in Texas, Headhunters claimed $598.77 in mixed beverage receipts in 2/2014 (in the 4-22 file).  For reference, other Bar Rescue bars in Texas had the following receipts for 2/2014 - The Brixton in Austin - $3204.54, and Bryant's Icehouse (Wildcatter) in Katy - $2258.10.

This is the 11th bar that has appeared on Bar Rescue to close, and the Bar Rescue Update Page has been updated with this information.

Bar Rescue - Taza (Oasis Hookah Bar) Update

On tonight's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Omaha, Nebraska to try to rescue Oasis Hookah Bar.  When Jon gets there, he notices a bad odor and also bad behavior from the bar employees.  The odor is supposedly a dead rat and the bar is also serving "toxic" drinks to customers.  One of the "toxic" drinks makes a customer puke after just one sip.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Oasis Hookah Bar was renamed to Taza Nightclub.  The bar seems to be using both names and goes by Taza Nightclub/Oasis Hookah Bar.  Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Taza/Oasis since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar:

Bar Rescue - Pat's Cocktails - A Mixology Bar Update

On tonight's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Valley Village, California to try to rescue Pat's Cocktails, which is a sports bar.  The bar manager is too busy "canoodling" in his bar to notice the things that are going on around him.  Jon Taffer gets one of the bartenders to help out with the recon, and gets her to give out tons of free drinks to customers in the bar to see if the manager notices, which he does not.  Jon will need to change how the manager operates to turn this bar around.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Pat's Cocktails was slightly renamed to Pat's Cocktails - A Mixology Bar.  Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Pat's Cocktails since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar:

Bar Rescue - Wildcatter Saloon (Bryant's Ice House) Update

On tonight's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Katy, Texas to try to rescue Bryant's Ice House. The bar is a struggling biker bar owned by Jeff, a former tax accountant.  It is struggling due to a bad reputation and a dysfunctional staff.  One of the bartenders is so drunk and obnoxious, Jon Taffer threatens to "knock his ass out"

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Bryant's Ice House was renamed The Wildcatter Saloon.  Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for The Wildcatter Saloon since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar:

Is Bar Rescue Fake? - Lawsuit Says So

While Jon Taffer always claims that Bar Rescue is real and nothing is ever scripted, most people who watch the show feel otherwise.  Yesterday, a lawsuit was filed by Dr. Paul T Wilkes against Bongo LLC (a Bar Rescue production company), Jon Taffer, and his wife Nicole Taffer.  Paul was an owner of the Sand Dollar in Las Vegas, which was on season 3 of the show and renamed to Bar 702.  You may remember the episode titled as "Don't Mess With Taffer's Wife" where Jon gets mad that Paul was hitting on his wife.  The full lawsuit is here from Deadline, but here are some of the highlights that give a lot of insight into the Bar Rescue process:

Bar Rescue - The Shot Exchange (The Tailgate) Update

On tonight's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Santa Clarita, California to try to rescue The Tailgate bar. The bar is owned by a dysfunctional family, which is causing most of the problems at the bar.  The dad aka Pops is an in your face type of guy who co-owns the bar with his son Matt and daughter Diane.  Some of the problems Jon encounters at the bar besides the family are the exterior, tacky dollar bills on the walls, money being counted on a cutting board, a kitchen fire, and raw chicken contamination in the kitchen.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, The Tailgate was renamed The Shot Exchange, and has a menu featuring 50 shots.  Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for The Shot Exchange since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar: