Bar Rescue Updates

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in St. Petersburg, Florida to rescue Buffalo City Bar & Grille. Buffalo City Bar & Grille is owned by Doreen Levy whose late father opened the bar. The bar is losing about $5,000 a month, revenues are down 25% and the bar has supposedly given away $90,000 worth of liquor in the past year.

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

Positive Reviews:

"Great service, clean place and pretty good food. Seemed to be a decent crowd, lots of tv's and music."
"Great food, drinks, and a great bar staff! Atmosphere definitely improved after they started not allowing smoking. Miss some of the old character of the bar, but still love coming here."
"Great food, great bartender and great specials. Our go to being in the service industry."
"It's a pretty slick looking joint! Different t than what it used to be but aim liking the new place much better now. They dont serve Kettle One but Grey Goise did the job. Still the nicest of people here! Met and Love Doreen... keep up the gr8 work!!"

Negative Reviews:

"We were visiting from North Carolina (husband is from Buffalo). We were so excited to try this place. During our first visit in March, we were really looking forward to a great experience after following the Bar Rescue hype. The wings were good; service was horrible. We visited the area again last week, and decided to give it another shot. Bad idea. We walked in the front door (past all of the smokers standing near the front door) and encountered vape smoke everywhere and drones flying throughout the establishment!! There were about 6-8 regulars at the bar- that's it. Oh- and one guy smoking inside near the front door. Nobody was eating; nobody was at the 2nd bar; nobody was sitting at a table ordering food. There was one table being occupied by a drone "club" or something. They were working on their drones and flying the around the restaurant/bar area. Yep. Service was again awful. We were basically ignored for at least 10 minutes. We ordered one drink and left disappointed, and frankly, sad. This place is super nice inside, but is obviously not being utlized to it's full potential. It's really disappointing, especially after being "rescued"."
"Even bar rescue could not save this turd...never....never..ever..will I be back. Warm beer. VERY slow service and bland food...rather eat at the gas station across the street...and believe me, I am being nice."
"Was interested in checking this place out because they were recently on bar rescue. We went in the bar and not greeted at all, eventually we sat down and a waitress came to us. We got a menu and then waited on her to come back to place an order, which she never returned. This is a decent looking place if they cleared out all the of regulars that glared at us the entire time we were there, and the smell of cigarette smoke is still strong because they allow people to smoke while being visibly intoxicated, laughing and shouting right outside the door you come in. We witnessed a few people walk in and walk right back out. From first impressions this is a bar for 60 and up due to the surrounding area. Good for them but we will not return, ever"
"I don't think I have ever written a bad review but I just had to this time. And if I could give it less than one star I would. For starters the place was filthy. The place itself could be really nice, it is large and open with two bars and the owner Darlene was pleasant, but the filth is just too much. The surfaces are slimy, it stinks like smoke, and the bathrooms were gross. We were there for an event so we rode it out."
"Changes in the bar look nice but it takes away way from what the bar used to be. New staff not so friendly. I'm a non smoker but was ok with the smokey bar. And as far as the karaoke and the singing their way enough bars in st Pete to do that didn't need another."
"Barmaid nice but bar rehab terrible job they did at that place!! I'd be ashamed if that's the best rehabilitation of a bar that they can do? Bar rehab needs a huge rehabilitation itself!!"
"My husband and I used to go there all the time but after Kristina and Candy quit and then the only decent bartender was Michelle and then she quit I will never go back there. The food is disgusting and always tastes old and the bartenders are too busy gossiping with each other to take care of the customers especially the one named angel. Trust me save your time and money and go to nickel City instead"

*Reviews from Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google

Other News and Links:

The Buffalo City Bar & Grille makeover happened in February 2019.
Here is a 6-minute preview video of the episode from the Paramount YouTube page.
Here is the Buffalo City Bar & Grille website and Facebook page.
Here is a picture of the new menu which was posted after the makeover. (Link)
Jim Norton who did recon on this episode has been sober for over 25 years, so he most likely wasn't drinking during the filming.
Bar Rescue made Buffalo City Bar & Grille (BCBG)a non-smoking bar. (Link) According to a few reviews the smoking area is outside the front door, so it still smells like smoke inside.
Here are some pictures of the interior after the makeover. The comments on that post have people disagreeing on whether smoking should be allowed or not. Buffalo City Bar & Grille let it be known that they will always be a Buffalo-themed bar and will put up Buffalo Bills decor. (Link)
Buffalo City Bar & Grille is under new management according to this Facebook post, which says, "If you have not heard the news, Buffalo City is under new management! With some new specials & new bartenders. Lots of great things coming. & New & improved menu coming soon. Come check us out!"

BCBG/Buffalo City Bar & Grille said that the son Frankie is now running the bar. Judging by the comments, that is a welcomed change by guests who had negative things to say about Doreen. (Link)
Here is Frankie's Facebook page.

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to slightly change the name of Buffalo City Bar & Grille to BCBG and the bar has decided to keep the name. One of the big changes done suggested by Bar Rescue was to make the bar non-smoking, which BCBG has also kept. However, some reviews say it still smells like smoke inside because the smoking area is by the front door. The reviews for BCBG since the makeover have been pretty negative with people complaining about the food, the service, the Bar Rescue makeover and the staff that is no longer there. BCBG is now under new management and Frankie III is now running the bar. Frankie is Doreen's brother and this seems like it is a welcomed change by customers of the bar.

*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.

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Sugar Creek, Missouri to rescue Stix & Stones Bar and Grill. Stix & Stones is owned by Billy Banks who supposedly wrote Jon Taffer asking for help. While Jon is doing recon, he sees bartenders that are too drunk and a cook who is cross contaminating all of the food items.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Stix & Stones Bar & Grill to Pit Stop Bar & BBQ, but the bar quickly changed the name back to Stix & Stones. The bar did close for a bit, but it is now open again. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Stix & Stones Bar & Grill since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"Fantastic service, even when they're busy. Check them out after there recent remodel!"
"My usual place to have a drink on my way home ..friendly staff cool vibe"
"Place looked great. Super fun."

Negative Reviews:

"My husband and I went there to pre game before a Royals game and walked in the bar didnt have 2 seats together so we grabbed a table right by the bar. The bartender came to the table right beside us 2 times to cash them out and didnt acknowledge us at all other than looking at me so she knew we were there then went back behind the bar to stand. We ended up leaving after 10 min no service. You wonder why business is suffering???"
"Not alot of people go plus the dj wont take your requests."
"I give it 2 stars for Having a nice place but then again I give a -10 stars if I could because it's allows people to smoke inside"
"Went on TV, changed names, changed back...threw out the barbeque... smoky... smoking allowed. Nice people. Need servers... Good menu. Good pool tables. Lower level dancing. Rough sounding music. Didn't try cocktails. Decent pricing. Didn't look at hours."

*Reviews from Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue makeover happened in April 2019
Here is a 7-minute preview video of the episode from the Paramount Network YouTube page.
Here is the Stix & Stones Bar and Grill Facebook page
Here are the Facebook pages of Billy (owner), Waterman (manager), "Razo" (bartender)
After seeing a preview of the episode, Razo said, "It was fun. They wanted drama I gave them a show. It gets way better too I can’t wait to see it." Razo is still a bartender at the bar.
Locals talking about Bar Rescue said the signs for Pit Stop Bar & BBQ were taken down pretty much right after Bar Rescue left and changed back to Stix & Stones. (Link)
The bar briefly went by the name of Pit Stop at Stix, but then went back to Stix & Stones Bar and Grill.
The bar is having a watch party for the episode and many of the employees are tagged in this post.
Stix & Stones did some additional construction at the bar in early May. (Link)
On July 6th, the bar closed and posted a farewell message stating, "We are open one last night tonight ! Come up and see everyone and have great drink specials also stix is for sale to the right person and please msg the page or contact billy banks for more info Thank you again for 12 great years to all our loyal customers !"
The bar decided to reopen on July 24th stating, "Under careful consideration and with our customers and pool teams and pool players we will be open this Wednesday thru Saturday 4pm - 1am ! Next week starting new times Tuesday - Saturday 4pm- 1am....Come and support us while we bring in our new stix bar and billiards and hang out at your favorite hometown bar and pool hall ! Will be open this Wednesday at 4pm with our in-house pool league and 9 ball open handicap tournament."
Someone asked the bar if the club downstairs was still open and they replied that would be open in September. (Link)
Back in 2011, Stix & Stones put together a seven-minute video to try to get selected to be on Bar Rescue, which is still on YouTube. So they have been trying to get selected for quite some time. (Link)
Stix & Stones Bar and Grill is listed for sale at $575,000. The listing states, "For over twelve years, this establishment has hosted hundreds of pool players and teams, dart teams and a nightclub downstairs featuring theme parties that pack the house. Over the past year the owner has come to want out and with recent Bar Rescue experience has decided to call it quits. The Bar Rescue episode is yet to air and could grow the bar & grill to new heights with a new owner and management."

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Stix & Stones Bar and Grill to Pit Stop Bar & BBQ, but the bar did not keep the name. They quickly took down the new signs and briefly went by the name of Pit Stop at Stix, but they changed the name back to Stix & Stones Bar and Grill. The bar actually closed in early July and thanked customers for 12 years in business. However, about three weeks later the bar decided to reopen again and they are still operating. The bar is currently listed for sale for $575,000 and the listing brags about being on Bar Rescue. It seems like Stix & Stones did whatever it took to get Bar Rescue to do a makeover with the intentions of putting the bar up for sale after the makeover.

*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.

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Blue Springs, Missouri to rescue Edge of Town. Edge of Town is owned by Mark Wilson and his fiance Ozzie who are getting another chance at a Bar Rescue. They also owned Longshots/Badlands Country Nightclub which appeared on season 3 (2nd set) of Bar Rescue in late 2013. While Jon is doing recon, he finds bartenders that can't make basic drinks, are drinking on the job, and a cook who cannot correctly cook basic items.

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

Positive Reviews:

"Welcome, friendly staff. Great tacos and the best shots in town! Wide mix of people here, always feels like a fun place to be."
"The tacos are Thursday are fantastic and the drink specials are amongst the best in the area. The recently remodeled the bar and the new look is nice."
"Good fun friendly atmosphere.. great service every time I have been ."
"Really cool inside!! Great new menu and lots of renovations!!"
"Nice bartender! She made my drink to perfection. Newly renovated, very upscale feel. I’d recommend it."
"While in Blue Springs, MO I needed a place that served real food, as I am on the keto diet. This place was great! They served me a perfectly cooked steak and made me a special salad that filled my nutritional needs. The food was fantastic and the servers were very nice and helpful as well.If you're ever in their vicinity and needing great food and a great atmosphere, Waters Edge (their new name, I guess) is the place to find it."

Negative Reviews:

"Not for non smokers. Walked in and walked right out. Very smoky."
"It's a nice atmosphere but it would be a million times better if people couldn't smoke indoors. The singers on the karaoke are surprisingly good"
"It's pretty small and clickish. Not a great place for singles. Probably only fun if you bring a group of people and really like karaoke"
"We ordered the steak for me and a burger for Charlie. We also ordered side salads. The steak showed up almost immediately over burnt and as hard as a hockey puck. I sent it back and they said they bring a new one. In the meantime the burger showed up with the salads and I never got my steak. I was heartbroken because I’ve always love this place. I thought maybe the makeover would help them understand what good food and service desk. Obviously not."

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue makeover happened in April 2019.
Here is a 6 minute preview video of the episode from the Paramount YouTube page.
Here is the Water's Edge Facebook page
Mark's bar Longshots - renamed Badlands Country Nightclub appeared on Bar Rescue in December 2013. Here is the update for that episode and it was already revealed that he was the owner of three bars at the time of that episode. Badlands has since closed leaving him with two bars.
Here are the Facebook pages of Ozzie (owner) Caitlynn (bartender), Kiana (bartender), Mona (bartender), Billy (bartender), Frank (cook)
Mark and Ozzie also appeared on a Back to the Bar episode of Bar Rescue in July 2018. In that episode Mark let everybody know that Badlands closed due to a leasing issue and his other bar Vertigo was showcased. Bar Rescue made it seem that Vertigo was a new bar that opened after Badlands closed, but that wasn't the case. Here is a video clip from that episode. It is season 6 episode 17 if you are trying to watch on demand. Mark and Ozzie said they paid off 80% of their debt and were in a good spot financially. Mark and Ozzie also got engaged on that episode.
Mark/Ozzie responded to a complaint about smoke at Water's Edge stating, "Thank you for the feedback! Edge has been a smoking bar since day one (40+ years ago) so while trying to appease both our smoking and non-smoking customers we have opened Vertigo Sports Bar & Grill in Blue Springs as non-smoking. Hopefully you will give us another try, we are putting in new smoke-eaters to alleviate some of the smoke!"
Water's Edge is having a watch party for the episode tonight and Vertigo is also having a watch party. (Link)
Here is a Blue Springs Missouri Facebook page which discusses the makeover at Edge of Town. Someone said the main bartender told them that Mark wanted Bar Rescue so he didn't have to paint the place. It seemed like the main debate on that page was whether Water's Edge was smoking or non-smoking and what it should be.
Edge of Town had a 4-star average on Yelp and a 4.2 out of 5-star average on Google.
Vertigo and Water's Edge are about 4 miles apart.
It seems like the staff from Vertigo and Water's Edge tend to work at both bars.

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer and Bar Rescue decided to change the name of Edge of Town to Water's Edge Bar & Grill and the bar has kept the name. The reviews for Water's Edge Bar & Grill are somewhat positive with people complimenting the food, atmosphere and the renovation. There are some complaints about the bar allowing smoking, but Mark and Ozzie said they are keeping Water's Edge a smoking bar and if you want a non-smoking bar, you can go to their other bar Vertigo. With this being Mark and Ozzie's third time on Bar Rescue (including Back to the Bar), they obviously have a good relationship with Jon Taffer and the show. Who knows if this was a case of Jon Taffer doing them a favor of giving them a makeover if they agreed to be on the show again? The reviews for both of Mark and Ozzie's bars are positive and they have owned these bars for years, so it is unclear if they were actually struggling. Just last year on the Back to the Bar special, they said they paid off most of their debt and they were in a good spot financially.

*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.

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Aurora, Colorado to rescue WildeFire Bistro. WildeFire Bistro is owned by Tony David who bought the bar and is a performer who must choose between his career and his responsibilities. Tony used his savings to open the bar and he is supposedly losing $15,000 a month and is $250,000 in debt. While Jon is doing recon, he sees that Tony's performances are not entertaining and he also sees food at the bar that has a hair in it.

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

Positive Reviews:

"Was pleasantly surprised! Took my son and his wife and met friends here. Ron Ivory and Linda Styles we're performing and it was a wonderful time. Service was on the slow side and menu limited. But I am sure with time they will come full speed and be a success. Met the owner, she was delightful and helped me get seats up near the stage. Next time I'm in town, I will be back‼"
"The live music and atmosphere was GREAT! I invited guests and family and we enjoyed it! Ron Ivory and Linda Styles were there and they were FABULOUS!!! I will be back"
"Great foods while enjoying super entertainment. Management very sweet, friendly atmosphere. Jazz on Thursdays!! Such a plus for a good place to take out-of-towners"
"This is a hidden gem that is under new ownership and new name The Prime. Great owners, live genres of music and one of the cleanest kitchens in the Metro area. 10 percent discount to first responders. Live smooth jazz, country, latin varieties of music. Great food and drinks at fair prices."
"New name - The Prime Bar. It was opening night. Waited a hour to get in, and an hour to get a drink. The owner, Tony David, did apologize and picked up our tab. The place has a very cosmopolitan look and hopefully will get it together in a few weeks."

Negative Reviews:

"Awful. Terrible food that is overpriced, weird atmosphere, shitty beer list. Been in a few times and the first time was ok, but its quickly gone downhill. Every visit worse than the last. Last time I went there were no vegetarian options at all so I just ordered the nachos with no meat. They piled some salad greens on top of stale tortilla chips and movie theater cheese sauce. Pretty pricey and I could barely eat any of it. Music was ok one time, attracted and older crown and they seemed to be having fun but... I won't be back again."
"Decided to try this place after the name change. Unfortunately, as most have said, it's a disappointment.Went in today for happy hour. Asked for a drink menu, bartender stated that they didn't "really" have one. She rattled off some happy hour specials, which were confusing, but she had very little patience and so we ordered two drafts: Blue Moon and Bud Light. We were informed that they were out of Bud Light and gave us a bottle instead.
The atmosphere/vibe was so unwelcoming that we decided to cash out. The tab was $10, hardly happy hour pricing, especially considering one of the beers was a 12 oz bottle.
Never again will this place get one more cent from me.
With this kind of disorganization, I'm afraid it's going to fail just like their predecessors.
Bar Rescue made not one bit of difference, other than putting a bit of lipstick on this very ugly pig"
"New "Bar Rescue" make over is a myth. All they did was change the name. Same grubby place it has been. Never more."
"Worst service ever! Wouldn’t give it any stars if that were possible. Took over 30 minutes to order a beer. On tap!!. Only stayed to support a friend. Wouldn’t recommend it and won’t come back. No wonder the place keeps changing names....."

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue makeover happened in May 2019.
Here is a six-minute preview video of the episode from the Paramount YouTube page.
Here is a WildeFire Bistro Facebook page.
Here is an unofficial The Prime Bar Facebook page where people check-in.
Here is the Facebook page of Tony David (owner).
Right after the makeover Tony said, "Wow and what a crazy week we had. We are still in recovery. This was the most draining experience I have every gone through. I am so glad this is over. Good Lord make it stop." (Link)
The bar has been sold since the Bar Rescue makeover and the new owners have kept the name.
A Meetup event on July 14th stated, "WildeFire Will be performing our Farewell show at The Prime Bar formally WildeFire Bistro this Sunday evening July 14th from 6:00-9:00 the address 15352 E. Ida Dr. Centennial, CO 80015As we all wish the very best for the new Owners of The Prime Bar, Jason and Shirley Sullen. WildeFire would like to thank all of our friends and fans who have supported us over the past 14 years of fun/entertainment/dancing/and sharing. We have made so many friends that we can't even count any longer, we would to take this very special evening to say thank you and we love you. So many memories are captured within those 4 walls. Many relationships started there and lots of marriages as well. We were happy and blessed to be a part of your lives. Many Celebrations of our friends who are no longer with us, but their spirits remain there every Thursday night. Countless Birthday's every Thursday night became a weekly tradition. Great entertainers who came up and performed with WildeFire. All the laughter that have echoed throughout the room still ring in my ears. So much fun, so many great people and so many memories. We hope you all come by this Sunday to give WildeFire a big farewell with one last show on the best stage in Denver Metro. Allow WildeFire to say Thank you all as the Curtain Falls."

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to change the name of WildeFire Bistro to The Prime Bar and the bar has kept the name. The owner Tony David decided to sell the bar in July, just a few months after the Bar Rescue makeover. The reviews for The Prime Bar were pretty negative after the makeover with a lot of complaints about service and the fact that not much had changed. The new owners of The Prime have kept the name of the bar and it will be listed as Sold on the Bar Rescue Updates page.

*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.

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Littleton, Colorado to rescue GI Jodi's. GI Jodi's is owned by a woman named Jodi who lost her military-veteran father who helped run the bar. She is now overworked and needs her son to step up to take more responsibility at the bar and to fill the void. Jodi's leadership style has caused the bar and her family relationships to fail. Jon needs to convince her that she is the problem and that she needs to change for the bar to succeed.

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

Positive Reviews:

"New favorite place we've been here once a week the food is amazing and the portions are huge. The wait staff bar/bar tenders are super. I can't even begin to explain how good the Pastrami is. We will be back soon."
"They did a major renovation on this place! Redid the menu and lost their dive bar feel of the old GI Jodi's. I've had a couple of their dishes from the new menu and all have been good. Still has that small town bar touch, but with a facelift."
"I had an amazing experience here! The bartender Jennifer was awesome! And the foofoo drink with cotton candy was delicious! The atmosphere is sleek, up to date and inviting. A great place for girls night out or date night. The menu looked great too although I wasn't there to eat."
"Great service, great food,great atmosphere! Will be returning! Recommend this establishment highly!"
"New look, new menu and really, really good food. The staff is friendly and a nice patio for warm or cool summer nights."
"I had a very pleasant experience here. The drink menu was cool had some different stuff on it that I tried. I had already eaten but the fries looked so good I had to have one and the wings just smelled bomb diggity. Bar tender was good at what he is doing fast and friendly. All the servers were super chill and upbeat. The inside is visually appealing, I liked the patio alot. And the phone chargers on the table were super helpful!"
"The bar is clean and the staff is professional! The outdoor area is set up well and the location is convenient. This is a good place to come and was fixed up nicely since the last owner."

Negative Reviews:

"Might as well b.y.o.b because good luck getting any one to service you. Been in here freaking 2 times and left without even being acknowledged. Bar rescue clearly did not work!"
"Food was terrible, service wasn't much better, but the band was good!"

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for GI Jodi's happened in May 2019.
Here is a 5-minute preview video of the episode from the Paramount YouTube page.
Here is the Malloy's Bar & Grill website and Facebook page.
Here is the old unofficial GI Jodi's Facebook page.
Malloy's Bar & Grill is having a watch party for the episode tonight. (Link)
Here are the Facebook pages of Brittany (bartender), Travis (bartender/Jodi's son), Ashley (Bartender)
A pinned post on Facebook states, "Welcome to Malloy's! We are a local bar and grille in the Ken Caryl and Littleton area offering the highest quality, food and spirits. We'll be using this Page to announce special offers, highlight seasonal local beers and craft cocktails and food specials. If you'd like to get in touch with us, message us on messenger. Don't forget to like or follow us so you are always up to date with bar events and happenings along with food and drink specials. Thanks for visiting Malloy's Bar and Grille and we hope to do business with you soon! Saved by Jon Taffer and Bar Rescue."
In August 2019, Malloy's installed a glass overhead garage door that opens to the patio. There are pictures of the garage door in this Facebook post.
Back in 2013, GI Jodi's was for sale and priced at "less than 1/2 annual gross." The listing said they were hoping for a quick close, but it was later taken off the market. (Link)

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to change the name of GI Jodi's to Malloy's Bar & Grill and the bar has kept the name. The reviews for Malloy's Bar & Grill have been pretty much all positive with people complimenting the food, service, renovation, cocktails, and outdoor patio. The bar seems happy with the makeover as they have a "Saved by Jon Taffer and Bar Rescue" message on Facebook and Yelp. Malloy's Bar and Grill has also done additional improvements after Bar Rescue left by installing a glass overhead garage door that opens to their patio.

*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.

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in West Bountiful, Utah to rescue The Fifth Amendment. The Fifth Amendment is also referred to as "The Fifth" and is owned by Brad Hepworth whose father previously owned the bar. During recon, Jon packs the bar and pulls all of the bartenders out of the building. The owner Brad doesn't even notice, and he is just sitting in the bar drinking. Brad has owned the bar for 20 years and still doesn't know how to make drinks or use the cash register.

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

Positive Reviews:

"Haven't been here in a long time and I am glad I finally made it back! The girls are awesome! I will definitely be back!"
"Friendly and fun atmosphere! AWESOME stuffed tots"
"20 plus years ago that I went to the "Filth". It is much cleaner, and the green beans were good. Good service. Odd layout, but you need to check it out. BOUNTIFUL IS A HARD PLACE for any bar/ pub!!!"
"This place is newly remodeled and reminds me of Trolley Square! Good vibes, fantastic food and friendly people! If you have not been in recently definately worth checking out!!"
"I’ve been coming to the fifth on Sundays for karaoke and having a great time! They have karaoke night every Wednesdays and Sundays! The bartenders are friendly and everybody there enjoys themselves and have a great time! I will most definitely continue going there!"

Negative Reviews:

"A bar makeover does not make up for a hostile bar tender.Sadly, our friend was very excited to visit the fifth after the bar make over that recently occurred, Unfortunately, the female bar tender was hostile, rude, and truly let us know that she had no interest in encouraging our patronage. And we are nice people. Not only was our friend very apologetic that she chose to try the fifth (it wasn't her fault that we were treated so poorly) We all vowed not to ever go back. In fairness, there was a male bartender that served us the first round of drinks and his attitude and customer service was very good."
"Local bar redomodeled on the interior & fresh paint outside, odd layout, not terribly welcoming...I'd call the TV Show Bar Makeover a "fail". Food was not good at all...bar help was fabulous! Mule was great!"
"I was informed that bar rescue was there to make changes. My wife and I were excited to maybe and finally have a eighborhood bar in this area. I heard they had food, new decor, better atmosphere. Sadly NO! new paint. Same old 5th. Nothing to do there but sit in a chair and drink, never presented a menu, never really seemed to care if we were there or not. Bathrooms still a disaster. Service still subpar. Maybe they will rescue this again sometime."
"Last night my husband and I went to the 5th for dinner and a cocktail. We walked in an sat down at a table directly across from the bar. There were two people behind the bar and we sat there for 15 minutes and they never made an attempt to serve us a drink or even acknowledge we were there. The woman was busy cleaning and the young man was working at the cash draw and having a snack. We finally got up and left. Bar Rescue did a great job with the interior but the service is crap. It's to bad because we like to support our local businesses.. SLOW SERVICE - How about no service."

*Reviews from Yelp, Facebook, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue makeover for The Fifth happened in mid-July 2019.
Here is a six-minute preview video of the episode from the Paramount YouTube page.
There is some sloppy editing in that video. When the first bartender walks out, the bar is filled and there are at least 4 soccer players in the bar. Then Jon sends two more soccer players in, and these players were in the previous scene where the bartender walks out.
Here is The Fifth Facebook page, which doesn't post much and does not mention anything about Bar Rescue.
The Fifth has a lot of poker and karaoke events at the bar.
The Fifth was sometimes referred to by locals as "The Filth." Jon Taffer acknowledged that by announcing the reveal for the bar saying, "Let's just say The Fifth is no longer The Filth." (Link)
Here are the Facebook pages of Brad (owner), Devon (bartender)
Jon Taffer added a trolley car inside the bar that says, "The Fifth Line." (Link)
An article from 2011 said Brad's dad sold the bar and when the new owners went out of business, he decided to buy back the bar.
Bountiful Utah City Council only has 1 license for a club that allows liquor sales and that license is held by The Fifth. (Link, Link 2)

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to keep the name of The Fifth and added a trolley car inside the bar which is still there. The reviews for The Fifth are mixed with people complementing the bartenders, atmosphere and the new remodel. There are also complaints about the bartenders/service and the food. The Fifth doesn't post too much on their Facebook page (just poker and karaoke events) and they make no mention of their upcoming Bar Rescue appearance. The Fifth holds the only club liquor license in Bountiful, Utah, so that is an advantage over potential competition.

*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.

Kiva Lounge & Bar in San Marcos, Texas which appeared on season 6 (2nd set) of Bar Rescue has closed. On October 14th, the bar posted on their Facebook page, "As of today our doors are closed. Thanks for all the memories San Marcos!" The comments on that post say the closure was sudden and there were still bands scheduled. People were also saying that someone bought the bar, but nothing can be confirmed.

When Jon Taffer did the makeover of Kiva Lounge & Bar, he renamed the bar to The Morgue. The bar did not keep the name and went back to the name Kiva Lounge & Bar a few months after the makeover. Here is the detailed update from when the episode aired and Kiva Lounge & Bar/The Morgue is now marked 'closed' on the Bar Rescue Updates page.

Sam Jordan's in San Francisco, California which appeared on season 5 of Bar Rescue has closed after more than 60 years in business. The bar closed on November 2, 2019 and apparently a predatory lending deal was a major contributor in the bar closing.

In May 2019, Sam Jordan's was listed for sale and after a lot of public support, the listing was removed. Owner Ruth Jordan said everybody has been great in supporting the restaurant and that the city of San Francisco did things she didn't even know were possible to help the business. She also said she took the business as far is it could go.

Sam Jordan's is now marked as 'Closed' on the Bar Rescue Updates Page. Also, here is the full update for Sam Jordan's when the episode aired.

Sydney an Australian Beach Club in Jacksonville, Florida which appeared on season 6 of Bar Rescue has closed. The bar's Facebook page stopped posting in September 2018 and there is evidence on their Facebook page that it was closed in early 2019. So it appears the bar closed in late 2018 or early 2019.

Sydney an Australian Beach Club was originally named Blue Water Daiquiri and Oyster Bar before Bar Rescue came to the bar in January of 2018. The episode first aired in July 2018, so the bar didn't remain open for too long after that.

Sydney an Australian Beach Club had a bad restaurant inspection (link) in October 2018 where there were live rodents found in the bar along with droppings in multiple places.

Multiple comments on the original Sydney blog post about the episode stated that the building is going to be torn down and a hotel is being built at the location. Sydney an Australian Beach Club has been marked as 'Closed' on the Bar Rescue Updates page.

Blacklight District Lounge in Long Beach, California from season 6 (4th set) of Bar Rescue is closed. I thought I already did an update on this closure, but apparently not.

Blacklight District Lounge closed in July 2018 and left a message to Bar Rescue fans on Facebook that said, "If you're a bar rescue fan And are on here to bash a bar you Have never been too then Screw off This bar supports live music of all kinds Which is a dead scene and bars like this keep punk, ska, reggae..metal alive..so don't believe a show that called us and put words in our mouth and then tries to charge us , this bar was going to be changed into a hipster bar with high end drinks and that is not us... if you support music in anyway you should realize that bars like this aren't made for everyone .thanks"

Blacklight District was one of the most infamous Bar Rescue episodes because it was one of the few that Jon Taffer walked out on without rescuing. After the episode aired, the bar was bashed on review sites and on its Facebook page by Bar Rescue fans. Owner David Franich responded to a lot of the comments and continued to respond to Bar Rescue fans on the Blacklight District Lounge Facebook well after the episode aired.

Here is the full update from when the episode originally aired and the bar has been marked as 'Closed' on the Bar Rescue Updates page. This bar will not count against Jon Taffer's statistics on the updates page as it was a bar that was not rescued.

MT Bottles & Cans in Murfreesboro, Tennessee which appeared on season 3 (2nd set) of Bar Rescue has closed. The bar posted the following on Facebook on December 9, 2019. "It’s time, y’all. MT Bottle is changing hands.Come out on the 28th as we pay tribute to our amazing 11 years, countless memories, and Tracy’s legacy." MT Bottles & Cans is marked as permanently closed on Facebook and also labeled closed on Yelp.

MT Bottles & Cans was listed for sale at public auction in early December with the listing saying, "The Bigford family says it's time to SELL! This is your opportunity to purchase an operating business lock, stock and barrel. Contents sell with the building. The property is situated on a 0.87 +/- acre lot with 205 +/- feet of prime road frontage on Hwy 231/South Church Street. Rutherford County zoning is commercial services. The possibilities are endless with a property with a traffic count as high as this one has. " According to real estate records, the sale went through on January 14, 2020 for $324,500.

Owner Tracy Bigford passed away (obituary) in April 2019, so perhaps this was another reason for wanting to sell MT Bottle. Gina is not listed in the obituary, but I am not sure of the reason.

So far, whoever bought the property has not opened anything in the location where MT Bottles & Cans was. MT Bottles & Cans has been marked as 'Closed' on the Bar Rescue Updates page and here is the detailed update for the bar from this site.

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Sacramento, California to rescue SacTown Sports Bar & Grill. SacTown Sports Bar & Grill is a sports bar that was opened by Chris Eaton about three years ago. Chris is losing about $8,000 a month and is apparently two months away from closing. T-Pain is there to help Jon Taffer do recon and they go inside with the "disguise" of a black hat to experience the bar firsthand. They find that the food is disgusting, the drinks are too strong, and that Chris doesn't have a good idea of the kind of bar that will work in this location.

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

Positive Reviews:

"Stopped in randomly. Best experience I've had as a late arrival. They were amazing and the food was spectacular! Blue crab pull bread may be the best thing you've eaten in years. It's that good. Then found out bar rescue was here and featured this appetizer. Absolutely worth the visit. Fairly priced with great service. Glad I stopped in. I will be back for sure"
"Great, food, drinks, and prices! We have hosted multiple ladies night events at this venue they are always a pleasure to work with!"
"I always sit at the bar for a couple of pints on the way home... Shay, the barkeep, is a great conversationalist, and the locals are intelligent & easy going. I always arrive home relaxed, and ready to kick it."
"We have always enjoyed coming to Sac Town Sports Bar & Grill, they had a great menu and an awesome bar with a lot of TV's. Now that they have changed to the name to Brannan Manor Restaurant & Spirits, they have created an even more amazing restaurant and bar. It is real classy and their prices did not go up. Their menu has expanded to include some fine dining options that are very reasonably priced. We love coming here before events at the Golden One, they always have space for our groups, and the post-event parties are fun as well. PS They even have a great breakfast!!!!!"

Negative Reviews:

"Food was decent. The service wasn't. I watched as three other groups got ignored for half an hour and then got up and left,and it wasn't even busy. Eventually we had to track down a waitress just to pay and get out of there."
"It was so difficult. Service was slow and appathetic. It took over an hour to get our check. The food was good but not worth the lack of customer service."
"I had never heard of this place until our recent visit to Old Town Sacramento, and because we saw it was "Bar Rescued" we thought we would give it a try. Unfortunately we were pretty disappointed. The wait staff was polite but not very attentive. The drink we had was good, but the kitchen sent out both meals we had incorrect. The waitress was polite and you could tell she was frustrated with the cooks when we brought this to her attention. Also for a place called Brannon Manor it was pretty devoid of any ambiance and fell short of any expectation we had for a place that was supposed to be a "haunt". 60 dollars later we were pretty disappointed with the food which was good not great, and left without any plans to ever come back. Forgettable at best."
"Went in to this establishment last Friday night around 9:30 it was pretty empty. I am not a beer drinker at all, so I asked for a drink menu and the bartender lady said they didn't have one but if I told her the alcohol I wanted she'd make something up for me. Hmm, wasn't this place just renovated by Job Taffer from Bar Rescue? I've watched enough of the series to know that they help with the drink menu and create drinks.... The decor is ok, but we won't be back anytime soon. I can pick the alcohol I want at home and create my drinks for a much cheaper price."
"This place is not so good. The food is alright. Service is a bit slow. The fries are good though! Came here on NYE and got seated so quickly. Maybe it was just a rough night! But I'm not too big a fan as of today!"
"Horrible service. Took 20 min to get a drink. Food was below average. Would NOT come back. The bar wasn't even busy. To get out 3 drinks in 20 min is very unacceptable. Restaurant had a handful of people. Nobody to greet and seat you. Service was so slow I'm not quite sure how this place stays open. We would have stayed and had drinks had they been able to serve them. Unfortunately they struggled to keep up with 3 drinks."
"Bad/slow service. The theme is confusing. Pricing isn't bad. Haunted Mansion decor with sports bar number of tvs meets typical greasy bar food. A disappointment for sure."
"Another place where you can sit patiently at the bar for thirty minutes and not be helped. This was my first experience here and I'm not impressed nor would I care to come back. The only thing I'll remember about this place is probably the poor service. It's not like the bar was near packed either."

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

Here is a 6-minute preview video of the episode from the Paramount TV YouTube page.
The Bar Rescue for SacTown Sports Bar & Grill happened in October 2019.
Here is the Brannan Manor Restaurant & Spirits Facebook page.
Here a SacTown Sports Bar website and Facebook page which they still post updates to.
Here are the Facebook pages of Chris (owner), Kristin (bartender)
Here is a 30-second commercial for Brannan Manor Restaurant & Spirits. (Link)
Here are the reviews for Brannan Manor Restaurant & Spirits on Yelp, Tripadvisor and Google.

The bar responds to a lot of the negative reviews, especially on Google. Most of the responses are sarcastic.

Here were the reviews for SacTown Sports Bar from Yelp and Tripadvisor before the makeover. They weren't to great and averaged 3 to 3.5 stars out of 5.
Here is a Reddit thread of locals talking about Bar Rescue being in town to do the makeover. They discuss Old Sacramento and how not many locals go there, but tourists do. Someone how was supposedly there during filming said they had a customer order beers so the bartender could say they were out even though they weren't. Another Reddit thread also talks about Old Sacramento being a bad location for locals.
There is a charity called California Police Youth Charities that got negative press in 2015 due to most of the money going to telemarketers rather than children. The CEO of that charity is Chris Eaton who has a salary of over $80,000. (Link) Looking at the pictures on the CPYC charity website, it looks like it is Chris from Brannan Manor. The charity was also sued in 2009 by the state of California for "conspiring and using deceptive practices to defraud donors". (Link)

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to change the name of SacTown Sports Bar & Grill to Brannan Manor Restaurant & Spirits and the bar has kept the name. The reviews for Brannan Manor have been pretty negative with people complaining a lot about service, even in cases where the bar is not crowded. The reviews for the food are mixed and some people seem to think the theme is not that great or confusing. Brannan Manor owner Chris Eaton has been responding to negative reviews online sarcastically and he is the CEO of a charity that has received scrutiny in the past because of how they use their money.

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Albuquerque, New Mexico to rescue Lucky 66 Bowl. Lucky 66 Bowl is a bar and bowling alley that is owned by Mike Draper, a Vietnam veteran. Mike bought the bar as a tribute to his father and is supposedly in debt $1 million and losing $15,000 a month. While doing recon, Jon finds that Mike isn't liked by his employees and customers. Mike also tries to cut-off and kick out patrons that had only had a few drinks.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to slightly rename Lucky 66 Bowl to The Lucky 66 Entertainment Center. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for The Lucky 66 Entertainment Center since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"Lucky 66 is a little gem. The atmosphere is fantastic. Plenty of lanes and games. Got a decently new pair of shoes for rent too. Had a blast with my friends. Definitely recommend going. Maybe you'll get lucky and get the haunted lane."
"Had my son's birthday here, everyone was super friendly and helpful. Had a couple issues with the lanes and a few games that didn't work but overall it was great. Very chill environment would recommend especially since it was the best deal vs everywhere else."
"I've been coming here since I was a teenager. I like it here and people are friendly. I love the Ally cat there!! Sometimes you'll just see him strolling around. The reason why I took off a star was because the keyboard panel you put your name on is hard to operate. Sometimes you have to push the keys really hard to get them to work and when they work they put 4 extra letters. And the air on the ball holder didn't work on any of them so fingers got really sweaty and I ended up losing to my boyfriend 😠😤 regardless... This place is fun and it's nice to have a bar area to get our drinks."
"A fun and inexpensive place to have fun with the whole family! The staff is friendly and bowling is great."
"Place for adult fun while kids can bowl here. Parking is easy.
They have three bars here. Except you have to get your mixed drinks in one bar which is to your right side when you walk in. I went to their Overlook Lounge that they just opened (on the left side of entrance) and it was nice! It had a large dance floor with cocktail tables to sit at. You could even have a dance party here!"

Negative Reviews:

"Worst place to go in town don't go here. The owner is a dickhead. Not even bar rescue could save this place. They treated my friends like trash. We will never go again"
"Terrible every lane we got switched to messed up kept shutting on my kids turns and resetting, they charged us 80 dollars refused to give a refund, we had 8 people and they gave us a card for a free 1 hour for 6 people but we had 8 people, ridiculous, careless and also didn't accept their coupon when paying for everything. Never going again hope I save people the headache of going here."
"This place was Terrible it had bad lanes"
"This place is dying not satisfied. The owner treats people like crap. Done"

*Reviews from Yelp, Google, Facebook

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Lucky 66 Bowl happened in August 2019.
Here is a 6-minute preview video of the episode from the Paramount YouTube page.
Here is the Lucky 66 Bowl website and Facebook page.
Here is the Facebook page of Mike (owner) which posts a lot of political things.
In 2017, Lucky 66 Bowl was sued in a vehicular homicide case. The lawsuit alleges Lucky 66 Bowl overserved a woman who, shortly after leaving, struck and killed a pedestrian.
Lucky 66 Bowl also has an outdoor sand volleyball court that is open March through October. (Link)
The bar inside of Lucky 66 Bowl is referred to as Dewars Pub
The food inside of Lucky 66 Bowl was cooked by a restaurant called Leilani's.
Here are the reviews for Lucky 66 from Yelp and Google

The older reviews are pretty negative and mostly 1-star with a lot of complaints about no AC.

In early August 2019, someone told Lucky 66 on Facebook to install air conditioning, and Mike responded that the building was sold and he's hopeful the new owners will install AC. (Link)

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to slightly change the name of Lucky 66 Bowl to The Lucky 66 Entertainment Center and the bar has kept the name. There weren't too many reviews for The Lucky 66 Entertainment Center and most of the reviews are about the bowling area and not the bar area. People seem to like the fact that Lucky 66 is a place where grown-ups can take their kids and also have drinks, while there are negative reviews about the bowling lanes and the owner. A lot of negative reviews over the years have been about there being no air conditioning in Lucky 66 and Mike is hoping that the new owner of the building will install AC.

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Layton, Utah to rescue Linda Lou's Time for Two. Linda Lou's is owned by Brandon Purser who has emptied his sick mother's life savings and is supposedly four days away from closing the bar. Jon Taffer has Vegas Knights Ryan Reaves and Nate Schmidt helping him do recon and discovers that the drinks and food are both terrible.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Linda Lou's to Purser's Bar and the bar did keep the name, but didn't stay open for too long. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Purser's Bar since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"Fun place, I think all these 1 stars are from people who think the world revolves around them. It was clean, with great cocktails."
"Excellent people and fun pool"

Negative Reviews:

"If this is how the show Bar Rescue rescues a bar I think they would have been better off not having them come in. The walls weren't even repainted the front looked like a laundry mat, had i not known Linda Lous was there before I never would have stopped thinking there was still a bar there at all. Big thumbs down Bar Rescue I hooe the otjer bars y pop u go to "save" look better than this place."

*Reviews from Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Linda Lou's happened in August 2019.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Paramount YouTube page.
Here is the Purser's Bar Facebook page and here is the old Linda Lou's Facebook page.

The Facebook page has not posted since December 2019

The bar was listed for sale in January 2020 for $199,000 and it was sold. The listing stated, "This is an excellent opportunity to own a retail/office space right across from the Hill Air Force Base South Gate in Layton. The current business is a bar/tavern. The business, trade fixtures, and licensing can be transferred (however, time is of the essence for the transfer of liquor license). So hurry and bring and offer. Square footage figures are provided as a courtesy estimate only and were obtained from tax records . Buyer is advised to obtain an independent measurement."
Here are the Facebook pages of Brandon (owner), Anthony (bartender), Amanda (bartender), Trina (bartender)

Anthony posted on December 18, "Can i say my life is alot it not hurting people and friend. Or family but not having Linda Lou's it makes me so sad! I worked hard to make people feel as my family and friends. I am sorry that it is close. It kills me alot cause that was me! But i am trying to make up in my life to make my new and old friends family. But i love u all please if there is something i can do plese contact me so i can make it happen at the best i can! I love my friends and family!"

In the comments, he seems to blame Bar Rescue for the bar closing.

There is a new bar opening in the location that will be called Southgate Tavern, but it is not open yet. Here is the liquor license that has the new name as of February 2020.

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Linda Lou's Time for Two to Purser's Bar and the bar did keep the name, but they are already closed. Purser's Bar was a speakeasy that had the sign of a laundromat outside and there weren't too many reviews before it closed. The Bar Rescue makeover happened in August 2019 and the bar closed late 2019/early 2020, so it only stayed open a few months after the makeover. The bar was sold to new owners who will be opening a new bar in the location. Purser's Bar is marked as 'Closed' on the Bar Rescue Updates page.

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Midvale, Utah to rescue The Union. The Union is owned by Bill Rowe who is supposedly $500,000 in debt and owes his in-laws $300,000 because of the bar. While doing recon, Jon sees that the food and drinks are bad, there is a lack of training and Bill isn't engaged at all. Despite owning the bar, Bill doesn't know how to make any drinks, so he cannot help his bartenders when they need it.

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

Positive Reviews:

"Was sitting in the parking lot after playing laser tag next door and just kept seeing several people walk in so we decided to see what was going on. The only thing I didnt like about this place was the lights were so bright. Kinda weird for a bar to have all the lights on. We played darts and pool soo much fun!!! Everyone there was great and it's not a bad spot to hang on a Wednesday night."
"Went on a weekday, was a surprising amount of people there but we still had plenty of room and service. Darts is cheap."
"Great place for drinks and food. Come here for lunch whenever I have a chance. The staff are always friendly and the environment is always easy going. Darts are cool too!"
"The Midway is an odd place. The bar has changed its name a couple times now in the past couple years with very minor changes. The bar itself is clean, plenty of tables for seating. It also has a large patio with more tables and TVs outside. The over all circus theme to the bar was a little weird to be honest, but once you appreciate everything else, the theme is last in your mind."
"Was there Saturday night.... had great service on the patio and enjoyed the new menu. My friend smokes, so the patio made it easy for us to visit, enjoy a few drinks and eat. Casual, not overcrowded and seems to have stepped up the environment with a remodel. nice job."
"The Union has always been a fun place to hang out, eat, have drinks, and play games, but they have really stepped it up! The new menu items are amazing and we especially liked the bison sliders, warm pretzels with cheese fondue, and the wings."
"Was surprised about how affordable this place was for the quality. Server was great too."
"I met a friend here for drinks on a Sunday. Pricing is reasonable. The staff is friendly and the drinks are tasty. We ordered the Mac n cheese with bacon and it was phenomenal! If you like spicy food add jalapeños. I highly recommend!"
"Great friendly staff, fun and cheery. Love throwing darts and shooting pool, most of all, KARAOKE! The food and drinks will cover all tastes. Large patio too."
"This is a pretty unique place! I was shocked to see the theme they have going. It's really different. My mom & I wanted a drink & some eats. Salad was stacked!! And oh my gosh- FRIED PICKLES. I have looked high & low for some fried pickles. I like the atmosphere and they have dart games, pool, plenty of room and seems like a great place to hang."

Negative Reviews:

"Sorry but the awful bathrooms will keep me away from here even though the service and food were good. I do love the 80's rock music and videos but can't get past the fact that I gagged continuously due to the hideous state of the women's restroom.
Please update and clean the bathrooms."
"I'm not sure what to make of this bar. It was formerly "union" and now the name change to "Midway." If you're thinking games, circus and cotton candy, you're correct! Apparently, Bar Rescue came here and remodeled the bar into a carnival themed one. I don't get it and I think they seriously dropped the ball on this one. The menu is also carnival themed and it doesn't fit the location or environment or the regulars that come in. The wings are really good here! But they added their regular menu on top of their carnival one. Fried pickles are a joke. They're thin slivers of pickle (cut long ways) and deep fried. They look more like cheese curds and you're eating more batter than pickle."
"What the @#$! This place as the union was great it went from a good place to stop and grab a drink and food with friends maybe sit on the patio ,to what mess !!!! They used to have a great atmosphere good food , we loved the wings. Now there are only a few selections a of which none were good .remodel is nightmare looks cheap unwelcoming and the name Midway ? and the theme is a joke looks like a amusement park. or a place to take your kids for there birthday parties. What were they thinking ? a total disaster ,sad we really enjoyed this place."
"Good bar but the bathroom sucks really unclean like there is no up keep threw the day"

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for The Union happened in August 2019.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Paramount TV YouTube page.
Here is the Facebook page for The Midway and here is the website for The Union.
Here are the Facebook pages of Bill (owner), Megan (bartender), Scott (bartender)
Right after the makeover, regulars of the bar complained on Facebook about all of the changes and said Bar Rescue ruined the bar. (Link)
On Jon Taffer's post advertising the makeover for The Midway, a few people were saying it was bad, such as this quote, "Hey Jon, gonna need another bar rescue for The Union someone made it into a carnival for children and got ride of all the food. Thanks Jon"
Here are the reviews for The Midway from Yelp, Tripadvisor and Google.

The owner responds to all of the reviews on Google. He thanks all of the positive reviews and uses the negative reviews to try to make things better or improve with their suggestions.

The Midway has added some food items back to their menu based on customer feedback.
The bar was called Scofy's Social Club before The Union.
The Midway is currently closed due to state mandates for bars and restaurants and they decided not to offer takeout food. (Link)

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to change the name of The Union to The Midway and the bar has kept the name. The reviews are more positive than negative with people liking the food, service, staff and darts. There are some negative reviews about the new theme and the Bar Rescue makeover as well as complaints about the dirty bathrooms. Despite some people complaining about the makeover of The Midway, the name and theme remain, and some menu items have been added to the food menu. It also seems like Bill is putting in the effort by responding to all of the reviews about the bar. The Midway is currently closed due to state mandates for bars and restaurants and they decided not to offer takeout food. They will reopen when the state of Utah allows bars to reopen.

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Albuquerque to rescue VFW Post 6216. This rescue is a bit different because it is not rescuing a struggling bar but a VFW Post. Jon Taffer will attempt to boost membership and raise funds for VFW Post 6216 by doing a Bar Rescue makeover. VFW Post 6216 is outdated, and the bar and kitchen area are in need of a lot of upgrades.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer obviously didn't change the name of VFW Post 6216. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for VFW Post 6216 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 6216 happened in September 2019.
Here is a 7-minute preview video of the episode from the Paramount YouTube page.
Here is the Facebook page of VFW Post 6216.
Here are the Facebook pages of Diane (bar manager), Christian (bartender), Rick (judge advocate)
The VFW is also known as Hurley-Carbajal VFW Post 6216 and has over 150 members. The VFW is open to the public on Tuesdays. (Link)
In 2018, VFW Post 6216 was burglarized, and the thieves cut the power and made off with $3,000 in cash. (Link)
Here are reviews for VFW Post 6216 on Yelp and Google.
Here is a video with Johnny Lopez after the Bar Rescue makeover where he describes what the show did for VFW Post 6216. He said Bar Rescue "replaced everything in the VFW including the chairs, tables, pool table and lighting." They also turned the kitchen into an industrial one and added new technology. He hopes the changes will attract younger veterans to the VFW.
VFW Post 6216 is currently closed due to government restrictions and will reopen when they are lifted. (Link)

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer obviously decided to keep the name of VFW Post 6216. There haven't been any reviews for VFW Post since the Bar Rescue makeover, which isn't too surprising as it is a member only bar for veterans. Jon Taffer is hoping this makeover will boost membership at VFW Post 6216 and also boost membership for the national VFW organization. As this makeover was for a non-profit organization and not a failing bar, the VFW Post will not be included in the Bar Rescue statistics on the Bar Rescue Updates page.

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Albuquerque, New Mexico to rescue Sandbar Brewery & Grill. The bar opened in 2017 and was purchased by a group of investors. The bar is currently owned by Mike Martinez and it is under dispute if Sean Colwell owns any of the bar. When Jon asks Sean to produce paperwork to prove his ownership, he finds that the documents were never submitted to a lawyer.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to change the name of The Sandbar Brewery & Grill to Playa Island Bar and the bar went back to The Sandbar shortly after, but has already closed. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Playa Island Bar (The Sandbar) since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"Always a great place to be. The food is good and the bloody Mary's are great. I have to say, the House DJ is one of the best DJ's ever. The DJ never disappoints and always gets the party going. Enjoy the nights out here as well as the game days."
"Football Sunday is where it's at here! I love the vibe and our server Elizabeth was outstanding! Let's not forget to mention that the carne asada quesadilla was on point. And the seating is 10x better than it was before! And huge shout out to the DJ for keeping us entertained in between commercial breaks."

Negative Reviews:

"This place used to be very fun but the new management has made this place full of pretentious workers and expensive games."
"The customer service is horrendous here! It should be a given to bring plates, silverware and napkins when people are eating. Especially a shared plate like nachos or pizza. Then there was also an issue the ticket at the end. It was one thing after another. Not to mention we came back hoping for a better experience, only to be disappointed."
"Cane to have a good time but the bartender was the rudest person I've ever encountered over change me i won't be going back and I will let my friends know this is not the place to go if your looking to have a good time unless you think being treated like trash and ripped off is a good time"

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for The Sandbar happened in August 2019.
Here is the preview video of the episode from the Paramount YouTube page.
Here is The Sandbar website, Facebook page and Instagram.
Here are the Facebook pages of Mike (owner), Kenny (general manager)
In a story right after the makeover, general manager Kenny Sullivan said they were going to see how their new name was perceived before deciding to keep it or not. He also said they planned more renovations such as painting and adding more TV's.

Right after the makeover, the bar posted on social media, "We don't love it. New ownership wants your opinion. Playa Island Bar vs. Sandbar. Leave a comment down below to help us decide. (Link)
In September, a month after the makeover, the bar changed their name back to The Sandbar and had a relaunch party. (Link)

The location has been a bar for over 50 years and when they bought in 2017, they signed a 10-year lease with options to buy. (Link)
Here is a picture from the opening that shows Sean as an owner, but Mike is not in the picture. (Link)
The Sandbar is listed as closed on all review sites and the bar's last post on social media was in November 2019. So, it appears the bar closed in late 2019, just months after the makeover.
The Sandbar location is currently available for lease and here is the flyer with current pictures. (Link)

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to change the name of The Sandbar Brewery & Grill to Playa Island Bar and the bar quickly went back to the name The Sandbar. The Sandbar has already closed before their episode of Bar Rescue aired on television. The makeover took place in August 2019 and the bar closed in late 2019, so it only stayed open for several months after the makeover. The Sandbar location is currently available for lease. Playa Island Bar (The Sandbar) has been marked as 'Closed' on the Bar Rescue Updates page.

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Tracy, California to rescue The Grant Bar & Lounge. The Grant Bar is owned by DJ Miller who is described as a know-it-all owner who blames everybody except himself for the failures of his establishment. He bought the bar five years ago and is now losing $5,000 a month, is $180,000 in debt, and six months away from closing. His goal is to pass the bar down to his daughter Leia, so Jon Taffer will need to help turn things around.

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

Positive Reviews:

"I am glad a friend told me about this establishment. Very awesome staff. Tommy and Trina are absolutely spectacular. The crowd is great and super friendly and inviting also. I had some braised short rib and pork sliders and they too were amazing. Chef delivered them himself."
"Was there on Saturday with my girls for the first time since the relaunch. It was just like I remembered...the dj was amazing, the dance floor was packed and the drinks were !!!! I'll definitely be back!"
"This place us legit, food was fantastic! We were passing thru Tracy, so glad we found this bar/restaurant. Will definitely come back!"
"This is a good place for Tracy to have, especially for the younger crowd. Its basically a dance bar like those similar to the bay area dance bars. MUCH BETTER than what it used to be!"
"Nice local Bar. The staff very friendly good atmosphere. People on dance floor having a great time dancing. I will go there again."
"This is a fun place for music and dancing. Friday and Saturday draw a crowd that usually gets heavy after 10p. DJ is hit and miss depending on your taste for music."
"I am sitting in transformational awe as I am witnessing a complete 360 from what I am used to here in Tracy. I have bartended at various spots and its a tough crowd to please. Congrats you nailed it.The crew are flowing like a well oiled machine the staff is on point and the people are happy. Its about time we get a spark of life in this sleepy suberb. Thank you John and the staff of Leia's for accepting change and creating a better experience for your guests"

Negative Reviews:

"If negative stars was possible I would . This is worst fucking lounge I ever been too . The employees are rude as fuck they act like asking question is crime . I would never come here ever"
"The overall of this place is good. The DJ for Friday night and Saturdays is horrible. I was there on Saturday and the DJ is horrible...,they need a new DJ"
"Boring hasn't seemed to change much. And $1.50 for a game of pool???? Fucking insane. Every bar in Tracy is 75cents at most a dollar. No hand chalk, and one pool stick chalk broken and had a hole all the way through. I think I'll stick to playing pool and having a beer somewhere else. Screw that"
"Went to watch the ufc fight last weekend. Ordered food that took 50m to get after complaining 45m after ordering. Apparently, the waitress went on dinner break and didn't considering fulfilling our order first. No back up or manager/owner engaging with customer to make sure of his own success. Such a shame this place is as bad as it was before bar rescue."
"If i could leave zero stars i would. but i had to give one to give this review. this place is shit. got turned away because of a dress code that the guy said they have been enforcing for 5 years that was never mentioned in any of my previous visits before the renaming earlier this year. we got turned away for wearing t-shirt's. don't go here. waste of time. give another bar your money"

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for The Grant Bar & Lounge happened in September 2019.
Here is preview video of the episode from the Paramount TV YouTube page.
Here is the Leia's Restaurant. Lounge. Nightclub. Facebook page and the website is coming soon.
Here are the Facebook pages of Tammy (DJ's ex-wife/owner), Trina (bartender), Victoria (bartender), Heather (waitress)
Here are employees from the episode talking about how the preview of the episode looks so edited and how it wasn't how things happened. (Link)
Leia's posted on their Facebook page about the upcoming episode. In the comments, Heather who was a waitress in the episode, said about the bar, "it’s only gotten worse. Or DJ has anyways," She also said, "If people only knew how bad it really is to work for that man." Someone else said on that post said about DJ, "yeah I can’t wait to see he has a short man syndrome as it is LOL." (Link)
Here are the reviews for Leia's from Yelp, Tripadvisor, Google.
Here is the liquor license of The Grant Bar. (Link)
DJ and Tammy also own another bar in Tracy, CA called Ralph's Club. (Link)
Ralph's and Leia's are currently closed due to government regulations on social distancing, but they plan to reopen. (Link)
Amy Koffsky is the bar expert again in this Bar Rescue episode. Here is her Instagram page.

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to change the name of The Grant Bar & Lounge to Leia's Restaurant. Lounge. Nightclub. and the bar has kept the name. The reviews for Leia's are somewhat positive with people liking the dancing, staff and atmosphere. People also say that the crowds for the bar are big on Friday and Saturday nights. It seems like whether or not people enjoy the bar depends on the DJ that is playing music that night. The owners DJ and his ex-wife Tammy also own another bar in Tracy, CA called Ralph's Club, so who knows if they were really struggling or agreed to do the show for a makeover. Leia's Restaurant. Lounge. Nightclub is currently closed due to government regulations on social distancing, but they will reopen when they are allowed.

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Tooele, Utah to rescue The Broadway Club. The Broadway Club is co-owned by Patty Bullock and Randy Hunt and there is friction between the two of them. Patty doesn't know anything about running a bar and drinks while she is there. Patty's antics are causing her husband Adam and co-owner Randy to pick up the slack at the bar.

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

Positive Reviews:

"Excellent food and great bartender. Love you Sarah"
"I have had there breakfast and there dinner and was pleasantly surprised with both"
"Atmosphere was great! Service was wonderful! Food quality good! Will definitely be going back! Also can't wait to try there bloody Mary bar and Mimosa's brunch on Sunday!"

Negative Reviews:

"We had brunch on Sunday, so it was quiet. Service was friendly. Inexpensive drinks and food. Eggs Benedict with hash browns had been in the serving window for a bit so they got a little cold. Not the end of the world. Pineapple Mimosa was great. We will try dinner later to get a feel if this is a place to frequent. One constructive gripe I do have is cleanliness, clean up the beer cans and cigarette butts, and weed the area."

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for The Broadway Club happened in July 2019.
Here is a 6-minute preview video of the episode from the Paramount TV YouTube page.
Here is The Roost Bar Facebook Page and here is their menu.
Here are the Facebook pages of Patty (co-owner), Adam (Patty's husband), and Sarah (bartender)
Patty, Adam and Randy took over ownership of the bar in November 2018. (Link)
While Bar Rescue was in town, locals seemed to think the location was the problem and there were also a few complaints about Sarah. (Link)
Right after the makeover, the bar posted, "The show was a whirlwind and incredibly stressful for all of us. We were given no information in any way as to what their intentions were. We learned more on Facebook than we did from production. When we walked in during the big reveal we were as shocked as you were to have the dance floor covered in furnishings. We understand what the show’s goal is and it was to utilize the kitchen and make the bar profitable because, I assure you, it was not. Where they say “Bust open the books!” that’s exactly what they did. That is the sole premise of the show.
We are two days in and still trying to absorb. We are hearing a tremendous amount of rumors and I assure you they are all just that, rumors. The staff has been instructed to say “no decisions have been made in any direction.” And that is what I am offering to all of you.
Again, we are TWO DAYS into the rescue. We are asking for your time and patience while we sort this out. I promise you we are hearing your input, however, we are not going back to business as usual. It wasn’t working and it was not profitable. Now we have a new foundation to build from and great things are coming. Some old, but mostly new. Stay tuned..."
Right after the makeover, the bar also posted, "2 announcements: - Tables are moved and dance floor is open! - Our staff has been pretty beat down over the past 2 weeks and have asked for a day off so we will be closed tomorrow, Sunday."
Right after the makeover, the bar posted, "The show gave us an amazing foundation in our kitchen but a few issues remain that need to be addressed before we can open our kitchen full time - and we want the issues addressed. We will be closing the kitchen for one week, at least. We realize what a disappointment that is for you and we apologize for that but we want to offer you the best we can. Great things are coming!"
In August, the bar posted, "We’ve had a great deal of comments regarding the fried chicken so here’s the scoop: The show’s chicken was a delicious concept but it just doesn’t work for the bar because the breading clogged the fryer which left the outside burned and inside raw. We figured you would be more upset if you ordered the chicken then we had to tell you that we had to shut down the fryer in order to unclog it and you’d have to order something else. (This has happened) We may only bring it back for specials. The signs for chicken are still there and are costly to replace but will be changed as soon as we can. I hope I’ve cleared up any questions."

So, the fried chicken is no longer on the menu despite the sign touting famous fried chicken, but they do have chicken wings.

During filming, Patty said that she was Jon Taffer's target. (Link)
In a local article after the makeover, Patty said people seem to like the new look and food and they have had a lot more people coming in. They have also added a Sunday brunch.
After the Bar Rescue preview came out there was a Facebook post that both Adam and Patty commented on. Patty said, "anytime you see me drinking with a colored straw it is water. I had half a drink and half a shot that night that the producers pressured me to drink. I didn’t realize what they were up to or I wouldn’t have even had that. When I’m there to work I don’t drink. It’s illegal." Adam said, "TRUTH?? Y'all don't know anything close to the truth!! She's put SO much time, effort, blood, sweat and tears into that place! So much work goes on behind the scenes but everyone seems to believe everything they see on "reality" tv!! SMH!!"
Here are the reviews for The Roost Bar from Yelp and Google.
The Roost Bar is currently closed due to government regulations on social distancing, but will reopen when allowed. (Link)

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to change the name of The Broadway Club to The Roost Bar and the bar has kept the name. There haven't been too many reviews of The Roost Bar since the makeover, but Patty has said in an article that more people have been coming in. It seems that The Roost Bar has moved some of the tables put in by Bar Rescue so they could still have their dance floor. Despite the bar sign saying "famous fried chicken," the bar no longer serves fried chicken because the breading clogged the fryers, but they are still using their kitchen and serving food. Patty and Adam don't seem so happy with how they were portrayed on the preview and claim the show told her to drink while filming. The Roost Bar is currently closed due to government regulations on social distancing, but will reopen when allowed.

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Emeryville, California to rescue Rob Ben's Restaurant & Lounge. Rob Ben's is owned by NFL star Marshawn Lynch and is named after his friend who was shot and killed in 2007. Marshawn has both his family and Rob's family working and running the restaurant/bar and he needs Jon Taffer's help to try to keep them in line.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to slightly change the name of Rob Ben's Restaurant & Lounge to Rob Ben's Neighborhood Soul. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Rob Ben's Neighborhood Soul since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the restaurant/bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"The food at Rob Ben's restaurant was hella exceptionally delicious. I ordered the shrimp and links grits smoothed in brown gravy...Oh hot dammm...lemme tell YOU it was good, then the swai fried fish w/potato salad, ooh you will hurt yourself. My husband ordered the steak fries...hot dam those was amazing as well. He also ordered fried pork chops to go along with peach cobbler. The peach cobbler looks like it's on point. I'm going to stop and pick up so vanilla ice cream to go with that there. And, to end this post they weren't skimpy with portions & the prices were reasonable."
"Love this place! I usually get the same thing 3 things fried chicken or pork chops or fish. This time I decided to get the shrimp and grits with my favorite chicken wings of course. Boy I'm glad I did!!!!! It was DELICIOUS! The shrimp and grits also had links, bacon crumbles, green onions and cheese flavors that matched to a PERFECT T! Now I will add this to my list of favorites! And will order 1 to go! Loved it!"
"I recently had my birthday dinner at Rob Bens and it was AMAZING, per always! Coming from the South, it's hard to find good soulful food, especially the vegetables, and Rob Bens is holding its own when comparing it to home. I eat here at least once a week to get that nostalgia of Georgia, and the food is on point... every time."
"The hubbs And I had chicken and waffles & an omelette with bacon, cheddar, & bacon it was phenomenal. The fried chicken was to die for (I should have gotten the chicken waffles) Either way service was great and food was amazing!! You won't be disappointed"
"They nailed it at this restaurant. The food was delicious. I ordered chicken and waffles and wanted to lick the plate and clean the bones. The service was unpretentious and down to earth. The place was clean. Particularly the bathroom. I have deep appreciation for an establishment (especially a restaurant) with immaculate bathrooms. All in all I can't wait to go back and try more things on the menu."
"It’s exactly what you are looking for if you know what you are looking for. A welcoming neighborhood place with strong drinks and hearty southern food."
"Great experience visiting from ATL. Good food those candied yams, mac and cheese and wings where great. OMG i had a beastmode margarita i couldnt drink was a beast exactly. General Mgr very nice lady great personality. I will be back!"

Negative Reviews:

"i was treated so bad, i thought i was being punked! the bartender didn't even look clean! i later found out the bartender is mr. lynch's brother! will not be going back! i really cant believe the customer service! i didn't order anything, i just left! really zero stars for me!"
"Customer service tonight was terrible, usually it's decent depending on how busy they are. Tonight was not busy at all. The bartender was extremely rude, never acknowledged us sitting there at the bar for approximately 15 mins and when he did he asked "what you won't (not want) when I appeared to be taken aback by his attitude, he said "oh nothing" and walked away. Proceeded to dance to the music and ignore us. When I finally got his attention again and told him that my niece would like to order...he rolled his eyes and asked her "what you won't...speak up" no customer service whatsoever. His attitude was uglier than he was....and that's pretty ugly. "
"If I could give this place on this particular day a negative 5 I would.... My aunt and I came in sat at the bar.. The male behind the bar had a very bad attitude. We stated that we wanted to order he said then speak up.... Supporting black businesses isn't the problem, the issue is the lack of customer service.... Get it together...."
"The food was okay the drinks were terrible you got very little for the money"

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Rob Ben's happened in October 2019.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Paramount TV YouTube page.
Marshawn Lynch was retired at the time of filming, but returned to play for the Seahawks in December 2019.
Marshawn Lynch has career earnings of over $58 million. (Link)
Rob Ben's does not have a website or Facebook page, but here is an unofficial Facebook page. They have an Instagram page that is active and provides updates.
Rob Ben's is having a live watch party tonight on Instagram and Twitch with the team and Marshawn Lynch. Jon Taffer also commented that he wants to do it together. (Link)
Here are the Facebook pages of Marshawn (owner), Shawny (manager/Aunt), Dave (bartender/brother), Cullen (cook)
In a SF Chronicle article, Marshawn said, "I thought he was going to come in and just rip everybody apart. And at the time, that was what I was hoping for. I knew there would be some backlash from our staff, but eventually everyone was able to see it his way."
Jon said in that article, "When you come into a place like this, it’s a responsibility, it’s not a rescue. Marshawn went about this for the right reasons. It was community generated, not profit generated."
Right after the makeover a bartender from Rob Ben's posted, "LMAOO i can't wait to see these crazies I like to call my extended family acting a damn foo on TV (I didn't sign the release so you won't catch me on there lol)" (Link)
Marshawn purchased the restaurant in 2018 which was called Scend’s and was a soul-food restaurant.
Here is an article from 2007 when Robert Benjamin Jr. was killed. (Link)
Here are the reviews for Rob Ben's on Yelp, Tripadvisor and Google.
With all of the social distancing regulations, Rob Ben's remains open for takeout orders and is giving first responders a 24% discount.

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to slightly change the name of Rob Ben's Restaurant & Lounge to Rob Ben's Neighborhood Soul and they have kept the name. Rob Ben's is more of a restaurant than a bar and the reviews for the food are great while there are some negative reviews about rude bartenders. With millions in career earnings, Marshawn Lynch doesn't really fit the typical Bar Rescue owner of struggling financially because of a bar, but he was probably selected for entertainment value. With current government regulations on social distancing, Rob Ben's remains open for business for takeout orders only.

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Bar Rescue - The Prime Bar (WildeFire Bistro) Update

Bar Rescue - Malloy's Bar & Grill (GI Jodi's) Update

Bar Rescue - The Fifth Amendment Update

The Morgue (Kiva Lounge) From Bar Rescue Has Closed

Sam Jordan's From Bar Rescue Has Closed

Sydney an Australian Beach Club From Bar Rescue Has Closed

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Brannan Manor (SacTown Sports Bar) - Bar Rescue Update

Lucky 66 Entertainment Center (Lucky 66 Bowl) - Bar Rescue Update

Purser's Bar (Linda Lou's) - Bar Rescue Update

The Midway Tavern (The Union) - Bar Rescue Update

Bar Rescue - VFW Post 6216 Albuquerque Update

Playa Island Bar (Sandbar) - Bar Rescue Update

Leia's (The Grant Bar) - Bar Rescue Update

The Roost Bar (Broadway Club) - Bar Rescue Update

Rob Ben's - Bar Rescue Update