The Truth About Bar Rescue's Most Expensive Rescue
Bar Rescue is one of the most unconventional shows on television. Why? Well, it can be attributed to the fact that the show is one of its kind, with its sole focus on rescuing bars struggling to stay afloat in an industry that is highly competitive and constantly evolving. Businessman, TV personality, and nightlife legend Jon Taffer hosts the show and assists bar owners as they focus on saving bars from shutdowns and closures. As a description on his official website explains, "A well run bar can be a money-making machine, but a poorly run one can be an owner's worst nightmare."
Make no mistake: this show requires the team to really step up and work hard to make things happen. Taffer and his crew members work with each other to figure out the best ways to save bars, dealing with unexpected questions like how tall bar stools should be for the perfect experience. Whoa. In a Reddit AMA, Taffer once wrote about how raw the show is. He said, "The thing about Bar Rescue is it's absolutely real. Not one word is scripted. So if there's no camera present, I don't talk to anyone ... Nothing happens off camera, and nothing is scripted ... what you see is what you get in Bar Rescue."
Well, while no one can deny that Bar Rescue has helped several establishments come back to life, some projects haven't been as successful as the rest — including the show's most expensive rescue in history.
This bar rescue simply didn't go as planned
The one mission that didn't go as planned at all? The LA Brewing Company rescue. According to BroBible, the project came to Taffer and his team because the LA Brewing company needed help resurrecting the brand after a legal dispute.
Taffer and his team took on the challenge, spending $125,000 to add a colossal beer brewing setup at the bar. This was believed to be the most expensive rescue ever for the team. Sadly, the bar failed to increase its profits. As far as Taffer was concerned, this was avoidable if the bar had focused on the changes suggested by Taffer. "I turned on the brewing system [...] all they had to do was pour the d**n hops into the pan, add the flavor, push a button, and five days later they would have had beer! But they never did it," Taffer told BroBible. However, the LA Brewing Company claimed that they didn't receive the support they needed to acquire permits for brewing.
Eventually, The LA Brewing Company was put up for sale to clear outstanding debts. For its part, the network behind Bar Rescue, SpikeTV, released a statement (via LA Weekly). According to the network's spokesperson, the company cannot control what happens to a bar after Taffer's intervention. The spokesperson said, "Taffer comes in, he gives his expertise and the knowledge and the tools, and they can decide if they want to keep it. We just give them the tools they need to be successful."