Bar Rescue - General Discussion

[Taeolas]

Yup, the new season started up tonight. A lot of the standard stuff, but seemed like a decent enough doover. Still, I'm shocked that Taffer would give up 2-3 tables worth of bar space for that false front. Plus that seems like a bad bottleneck for evacuation purposes. 

[Art Vandelay]

I wasn't a huge fan of this one. After saying that the bar looks like an auto shop and nobody would know it's a bar...he makes it look even more like an auto shop? I get the prohibition theme thing but how do people know Ps and Qs is a bar?

[Ubiquitous]

Yeah, I remember Taffer in the past bitching at owners about not looking like a bar and this week he does exactly that? Was he making patrons have to find the secret door and giveca password? Was that secret entrence a sneaky way to build a "butt funnel"?

Oh yeah, I was skeptical about them using black markers on underage drinkers thst could be washed off with water, too.

[crabbypants]

While I get the liability issue of doing an 18+ bar instead of a 21+ bar, I took offense at John's assumption that 18 year olds only go to bars to get drunk.  When I was checking out different grad schools, I was under 21 and the department meet & greets usually took place at bars.  Fortunately I never had a problem getting in and my drinking exploits never got more wild than swapping diet Coke for diet Pepsi.  

[NikSac]

I hope this is the right season and episode title. I'm just now watching "Thugs with Mugs" on my DVR and wow, what a disaster!

 

Was the place really that bad, or did they go over the top ramping up the drama? Maybe both?  I think if I'd ever been there I'd be pissed, but man that was nuts. I might be relieved to know it was actually their food that caused what I thought was the stomach flu, I guess.  I just don't see how this episode would help the place, no matter how much "better" the supposedly rescued bar was in the end.

[LoneHaranguer]

If the bar was substituting no-name brands for the stuff this show is always pushing, and nobody noticed, what does that say about the "value" of those premium brands? While it's a disservice to customers to quietly do a substitution, the episode failed to show anybody was getting ripped off because we don't know what the customers were being charged.

 

I think Taffer crossed a line instigating a big bar fight and trying to somehow blame the establishment for people being endangered/hurt. The security was no worse than at any other places that have appeared where he hasn't said a word. There are better ways to say "if we turn this place around, you'll have to hire more security to handle the crowd".

[Julia]

If the bar was substituting no-name brands for the stuff this show is always pushing, and nobody noticed, what does that say about the "value" of those premium brands? While it's a disservice to customers to quietly do a substitution, the episode failed to show anybody was getting ripped off because we don't know what the customers were being charged.

 

Consumer Reports did a taste test of premium vodkas. The control was Everclear cut with distilled water. The control won.

[NikSac]

If the bar was substituting no-name brands for the stuff this show is always pushing, and nobody noticed, what does that say about the "value" of those premium brands? While it's a disservice to customers to quietly do a substitution, the episode failed to show anybody was getting ripped off because we don't know what the customers were being charged.

 

I think Taffer crossed a line instigating a big bar fight and trying to somehow blame the establishment for people being endangered/hurt. The security was no worse than at any other places that have appeared where he hasn't said a word. There are better ways to say "if we turn this place around, you'll have to hire more security to handle the crowd".

 

So I wasn't the only one confused by that?  It seemed like the patrons really didn't care about whatever they were being served until Taffer flipped out about it. Not that I think it's okay to switch things around and put it in fancier bottles, but it didn't seem like the patrons cared that much initially.

[Missy Vixen]

My favorite part of the episode was the production meeting the day after the "bar fight". If Taffer cares so much for his camera people and staff, why would he put them in that situation in the first place? I also wonder why he didn't abandon both bar and episode as a result. It was an unsafe situation for all, the obviously alcoholic owner was most likely going to start drinking again the second Taffer and his production group left, and I have wondered what has gone on at that bar since.

[Lonesome Rhodes]

If I had been an innocent customer and the slightest injury happened to me or my property, I would most definitely have gone after Taffer and Spike and whatever production companies were involved.  Slam dunk win.  This ep showed once and for all that Taffer is full of caca anytime he spouts off about safety.  How often do you think he told his clientele through the years to stop serving any given customer for being overserved?   Not many if he wanted to be hired again.  Those are the customers that push a joint into the black and generate the biggest tips for the servers.

 

So who paid for the new security?  With what was SOYO supposed to pay them after Taffer bolted town?  

 

The planning chat was easily the lamest one I've seen on this series.  How Taffer kept a straight face as they were taping that is beyond me.  I truly did not even grasp the new concept for that joint.  What was the allure for an upscale suburbanite?   How many hundred choices are available within a 25 mile radius of that place?

 

Oh well.  It is progress that Diageo did not renew the branding deal - at least at the ridiculous level of last season.   Maybe, just maybe, the featured drinks will be a tad more practical/realistic. 

[portfino]

 

A Staten Island bar that is overrun by customers who are cooking their own food and getting their drinks, due to the employees poor work ethic and the owner's hands off approach in running the bar. Jon must re-ignite the owner's fire and teach the staff why they need to do their own work.

This episode had to be completely staged. The "bikers" walked past an entire line of people when they got into the bar. The manager was clearly acting, but badly because he had to keep repeating "studio apartment" because it was the only dialogue he could remember.

[BusyOctober]

I think the homeless brother has some degree of an intellectual disability. He perseverated on the studio apartment. His brothers didn't seem too much more on the ball.

I agree this show is staged. There is no way any of that was 100% real.

[ktwo]

What was the update? My DVR cut off right before.

[Ubiquitous]

I had to laugh at Taffer threatening to quit the ep but since it was only 15 minutes in, I didn't believe him. I did laugh at him going ape shit with the freezer burned bags of carrots, tho.

[deSchenke]

The suits two of the brothers were wearing at the end did them no favors.  Ill fitting and ties that were sloppy.  At least "studio apartment" brother had the good sense to wear a black shirt that fit him.

[Ubiquitous]

What was the update? My DVR cut off right before.

I no longer remember now. I think it was the boilerplate thing about them making x% more after the change.

[Julia]

Queens firefighters tank their late father's bar. One of them is drunk.

Raise your hand if you think feeding hidden ghost peppers to people drinking hard liquor is a good idea.

Edited November 3, 2014 by Julia

[Gregg247]

I've got to hand it to Jon Taffer--his re-do of this bar into a firehouse was really cool and unique. The wide-open front wall next to the main entrance was a good way to get some "excitement" onto the street, and the place looked like a lot of fun.  Those meat-head brothers, on the other hand, will definitely find a way to mess things up (especially the one drunk/trouble-maker).

 

Glad to see Vic Vegas again (from The Next Food Network Star).  I like the super-hot grilled cheese sandwich idea; it looked like that bearded dude actually downed the entire thing!

[NikSac]

 

Glad to see Vic Vegas again (from The Next Food Network Star).  I like the super-hot grilled cheese sandwich idea; it looked like that bearded dude actually downed the entire thing!

 

THAT'S where he was from. Thank you because it was driving me nuts trying to figure out why he looked familiar.  I'm hungry for grilled cheese now. I wonder if they deliver. ;)

[LoneHaranguer]

Did Taffer and his spies not grasp the name of the place? Going into "Jack's Ale House" and ordering a Harvey Wallbanger made as much sense as going into a place called "Cristy's Martini Bar" and ordering a Fosters.

Edited November 4, 2014 by LoneHaranguer

[hatchetgirl]

The video game urinal was just... Ugh I don't even know where to go with that.

I agree that the sandwich challenge looked like a great idea.

[NikSac]

The video game urinal was just... Ugh I don't even know where to go with that.

 

I'd almost forgotten about that game. That was so gross. I can't believe there's a company making video games for urinals. Can you imagine the cleanup of the floor?

[Julia]

I'm surprised that people feel like the ghost pepper sendwich is a good idea. I mean, we're talking about a pepper ~260x as hot as a jalapeno (>1 million scoville units vs an average of 4k). I feel like selling people food which can cause internal chemical burns if it's not prepared correctly suspended in hot cheese when their reactions are dulled by drinking is a lawsuit begging to happen, especially since there's that half hour of irresponsible owner video floating around.

 

I can't imagine trusting the owners from last night to run a place where that was a safe thing to do.

Edited November 4, 2014 by Julia

[NikSac]

I'm surprised that people feel like the ghost pepper sendwich is a good idea. I mean, we're talking about a pepper ~260x as hot as a jalapeno (>1 million scoville units vs an average of 4k). I feel like selling people food which can cause internal chemical burns if it's not prepared correctly suspended in hot cheese when their reactions are dulled by drinking is a lawsuit begging to happen, especially since there's that half hour of irresponsible owner video floating around.

 

I can't imagine trusting the owners from last night to run a place where that was a safe thing to do.

 

Totally agreed!  I've burned the hell out of myself with a jalapeno (yes I was dumb enough to touch it and then my face).  I can't imagine touching a ghost pepper. I'm scared of them and I've never even seen one in person.

[LoneHaranguer]

 

I'm surprised that people feel like the ghost pepper sendwich is a good idea. I mean, we're talking about a pepper ~260x as hot as a jalapeno (>1 million scoville units vs an average of 4k). I feel like selling people food which can cause internal chemical burns

Capsaicin (the active ingredient) doesn't cause chemical burns. It's an irritant that causes pain, inflammation, and other symptoms, both negative and positive. The body's senses generally work on a non-linear scale, so a really big Scoville number is mostly hype. Customers will certainly regret eating one of those sandwiches, but it's not going to bring about a successful lawsuit.

[Ubiquitous]

I may be mistaken, but those peppers aren't so bad if you removed the seeds, which is the hot part.

[Ubiquitous]

I caught the first half and see why I never saw anything about a bug problem; they fixed it in the first twenty minutes! Was there a problem with mosquitos in the sewer lines entering the bar and biting people? I kinda missed why Taper went apeshit over that when the only complaints I heard voiced were about the swarms of fruit flies and rodents.

[hatchetgirl]

The American dream becomes a hard reality for this Irish bar owner after Taffer discovers he withheld employee paychecks to keep the business afloat.

[hatchetgirl]

Want, am I the only one will watching this wreck? LOL

Tonight was hilarious and sad, but only in the way an Irish movie could be. Boss is a mess, can't pay employees who stay even when not paid (who does that), best Irish friend drinking like a fool, while tb grandma sits in corner darning socks for pennies. OK I lied about grandma but it worked.

Anyone see it and anyone think it will work?

Where did they get that big vat of potatoes to mash?

[NikSac]

I'm watching too. :) 

 

This episode made me want mashed potatoes (made in my own kitchen with clean stuff!), but other than that I just wasn't a fan. I hope the place does okay but don't have high hopes for it.

[Julia]

It's not a real irish bar without food? Really? 

 

It's not a real irish tavern without food. Not every irish bar is a tavern.

[Madding crowd]

Yeah I know Irish bars without food. On some episodes Taffer says you can't have a bar without food, on other ones it isn't mentioned. Not everyone goes to bars to eat. I usually go to meet friends to have a few drinks, we may or may not eat.

[ktwo]

I think Taffer's point is that bars that serve food are more profitable for the owners, because customers who eat will stay longer. And you're less likely to have a bar full of drunkety drunk drunks when your customers have some food in them.

[Madding crowd]

It depends on the type of bar and the area. Some bars that cater to a young drinker crowd make way more than some that serve dinners. It's always up to the owners if you want to over serve and that can happen whether or not you serve food. I have had friends and family members who owned bars and the location and general features ( TV's for sports, music) have made the biggest impact.

[Julia]

Oh, I tend to agree with Taffer about bars serving food. I just take reasonably serious issue with the idea he put forward that it isn't an authentic irish bar if it doesn't serve food, because that's not true. 

[Julia]

Yeah, that was weird. Unless that was some kind of performance art they promised to get Taffer through the door, the mom has maybe spent a little too much time exploring the universe.

Also, I'm at a total loss how serving chicken wings in a bar is going to make a little girl grow breasts, unless the little girl spends more time in bars than most do.

[alegtostandon]

I just watched this episode today.  It was a bar that JT had rescued back in 2012, the one where all of the girls wore skimpy bikini's.  I guess profits increased by 400% and the owner paid off over $180,000.00 in debts but did not put any money back into the bar and it was going to hell.

 

The part that got me was when Jon and crew were outside spying on the bar, they made a big deal about how dark it was, the outside lights in addition to the sign lights were out. They scanned the camera over towards the bar, showing it was totally dark, no outside lights at all.  When the 2 spies went into the bar, they showed them get out of the car and walk towards the bar.  All of the lights were on!  The sign that said 'Second Base' was lit up and all of the outside lights were on.  Jon Taffer is a miracle worker, that's for sure!

[Art Vandelay]

Let there be light!

I didn't think this episode was strong enough to warrant a re-do. Just kept thinking how many bars would probably love to have Taffer visit once and he's wasting his time on someone who's not appreciative.

[Art Vandelay]

The "come on guys, let's get out of here" then they return the nex day for a second chance s really getting old and ineffective.

I read that the bar changed back to the old name, surprise surprise. I wonder how they got around the signed agreement or if it had any teeth to start with.

This owner obviously was not going to transition to a run of the mill bar, it was inevitable that she would go back to her performances. It's like the pirate bar, just not going to happen.

[Dagny]

I guess we now know about how much is budgeted to redo each bar. Good to know.

[Julia]

I just think it's a little weird that the owner, who supposedly let his bar go to hell because he was a functioning alcoholic and couldn't be in a bar because he didn't want to lose his family, used the profits to open another bar.

[Evolution101]

Sad that the owner lost his son, but it was clear that he was letting that get in the way of running his bar.

 

Interesting that Jon decided to make it into a pirate bar.  It'll probably work better by the beach than in the middle of a corporate district like Piratz Tavern.

 

Someone needs to tell the narrator to stop shouting.

[Julia]

Do you think he did it specifically as a screw you to the Piratz loonies or was that just lagniappe?

[NikSac]

I ended up liking the theme, but I wondered the same about why he chose it. Seemed like sort of an "FU" to the previous pirate bar owners. Then again I thought the Rat Bar (sorry, that's all I can remember it by!) was a lot more thoughtfully done.The Piratz Tavern place seemed more like a costume party, whereas this one had a history behind it. I loved the map they did behind the bar, for example. It must be a fairly well known local story for the staff to know it so well, too. When I first saw the new name I had no idea.

 

Loved the fish bowl drink that looked like an actual fish bowl with the fruit in there. I could see locals taking visitors there just for the wow factor.  I wasn't a huge fan of the odd and awkward looking pirate glasses (or glass covers, whatever those were). Even when they showed the smiling girl at the end it looked like the drink was really awkward for her to hold.

 

On the food side, are rats in kitchens really that common in Florida?  They made it sound like it's a fairly normal thing. Eek. (and I like rats - had one that was a great pet for a couple of years - but I don't want them hanging around my food)

[SmithW6079]

I think Jon was off base to tell the one bar owner it was time to move on from his son's death. There's no timetable for grief, especially when it's for one's child.

The rats were disgusting.

[Julia]

I don't know if he was telling him to get over his son's death. I think he was telling him to get over making his business, his partner, and his employees deal with the slow-motion temper tantrum he'd been having since his son died.

Grief is a personal thing. Using it as an excuse for bad behavior isn't.

[AnnieBananie]

When someone is that deep into the Kool-Aid, there's no way that they're going to be willing to see another side, another way of doing things.

 

I liked the son, though - he seemed willing to go along with Jon's ideas.

[buttersister]

I read that the bar changed back to the old name,

I'm sure Lonnie thinks she's being clever. They took down the big Clear Bar sign and put a small Underground Wonderbar sign in the window. It's 18" square tops and seems to have lots of colors on it--surprise! Hard to tell because it's hard to see from across the street (and it's too cold for me to cross over to take a closer look instead of going inside). 

 

Before Jon showed up, the outside of the building looked like the Lowe's paint department barfed on her walls and Lonnie was mighty proud of it (requests for a whitewash were not entertained). It also looks like there's live entertainment--of a woman dancing around the stage in a red skirt variety.

 

Maybe her special brand of bar worked wherever she was before River North (where not everyone is rich, just saying). I can't say if business is up since the do-over but I don't know a soul around here who went in there before.

[ktwo]

This woman set my teeth on edge SO much that she reminded me more of the people being helped by Hoarders more than those on Bar Rescue. Just complete crazy denial.

[Julia]

This woman set my teeth on edge SO much that she reminded me more of the people being helped by Hoarders more than those on Bar Rescue. Just complete crazy denial.

 

I don't know if it's denial as much as it is that she wants a place where she can make her Woodstock called, they want their heavily medicated rhythmic flailing back scene happen. If the bar is run so the customers are comfortable she'll be out of place and ridiculous. 

 

Honestly? I kind of hope if she's going make the place fail she'll do it quickly. Her son doesn't deserve that kind of stress.