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Here's what happened to every Florida bar featured on 'Bar Rescue'

By CL Staff on Fri, Aug 12, 2022 at 6:25 pm

The state of Florida has been a longtime favorite for the reality show "Bar Rescue," where host Jon Taffer – inventor of the "butt funnel" and the NFL Sunday ticket– gives bar owners a free remodel in exchange for getting screamed at on camera.

In the spirit of Taffer's catchphrase "Shut it down!" we wondered how many of Florida's "Bar Rescue" bars have actually succeeded and how many have shutdown over the years.

While the whole state has plenty of watering holes featured on the show, Central Florida wasn't immune to the Taffer treatment. Tampa Bay alone has had 11 bars featured over the show's eight seasons.

So, here's what happened to the Florida bars that agreed to pull back the doors, bust open the books and make a call for help to "Bar Rescue."

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Toucans Oceanside Bar & Grill

500 N Broadwalk, Hollywood
Although there were rats in the kitchen, Taffer teared up after hearing that one of the co-owners had recently lost a son. The restaurant has since changed its name to Bonny and Read’s, and has a mostly positive rating on Google reviews.

Photo via Bonny and Read’s/Facebook

Mystique Lounge

114 S Narcissus Ave., West Palm Beach
This club and bar was haunted by a violent reputation after someone was murdered there. The bar, which changed its name to Aura, closed despite Taffer’s attempts to save the bar with a new name, helping the owners tighten up their business practices and training the staff to revamp their VIP service. A new Cape Cod-inspired club and homage to JFK, Camelot, has since opened in its space.

Photo via Cmelot/Google

New England's Ale House Grille

3419 US-19 ALT, Palm Harbor
During recon, the owner of New England’s Ale House discovered that the bar’s kitchen had sanitary issues. Multiple members of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made guest appearances in this episode and the Ale House was rebranded as a German-themed restaurant named Das Brauhaus. The restaurant closed in 2019 and the owner repurposed the bar’s Facebook to promote her real estate business. After nearly three years of vacancy, the location currently hosts Indiana-based chain Wings Etc. as of this May.

Photo via Wings Etc./Google

The Bridge Lounge

1056 N Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs
Taffer helped this fisherman-themed bar recover after the BP oil spill and the death of the owner’s father. Although they didn’t change its name, they added “A Local’s Bar” to their sign.

Photo via Bar Rescue/Youtube

Buffalo City Bar & Grill

5631 Park St. N, St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg hosted the first ever “emergency rescue” at the Buffalo City Bar & Grill. The owner of the bar learned how to run the business after her father died, so Taffer stepped in to help. The bar was renamed BCBG during renovations and is still open, but has since reverted back to using its former title.

Photo via Buffalo City Bar & Grill/Google

Cap'n Odie's Lounge

2206 Mayport Road, Atlantic Beach
Bartenders had a difficult time making cocktails and the bar’s dirty ice machine led to contaminated drinks before Taffer stepped in. The bar dropped “Lounge” from its name and is still operating in memory of its late founder. It has mostly positive Google reviews.

Photo via Cap’n Oldies/Google

Lucky Leprechaun

43356 US-27, Davenport
Taffer renamed the Lucky Leprechaun as Lucky's Corner Pocket to emphasize the bar’s abundance of pool tables. The bar also got a new coat of paint and some new furniture. However, Taffer’s renovations didn’t keep the bar from closing in 2018. Fireside Lounge and Billiards has taken Lucky’s place with new owners.

Photo via Bar Rescue/Youtube

Sandbar Sports Grill

3064 Grand Ave., Coconut Grove
Although they changed their name to The Hot Rock Bar & Grille during the “Bar Rescue” episode, the owners have since changed their name back to Sandbar Sports Grill. However, in classic “Bar Rescue” fashion, Taffer helped the bar redecorate, attract a new demographic and taught the bartenders some new recipes. Despite being closed from 2020-2021 due to a fire, Sandbar is currently back in business.

Photo via Sandbar Sports Grill/Google

The Bridge Lounge

Rockin' Rhonda's Lounge

2617 S Orlando Drive, Sanford
Taffer was unsure whether structural repairs could be made in time at Rhonda’s. Luckily, the crumbling floors were fixed and the bar, which was renamed Rhonda's A Neighborhood Bar, is still in business.

Photo via Rhonda’s Neighborhood Bar/Facebook

Gil & Rick's Sports Bar and Pizzeria

1250 Seminole Boulevard, Largo
During recon, the bar struggled to fulfill an order for 11 pizzas. Taffer and guest-star Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports renamed the sports-focused pizzeria and bar “Sauced” during renovations. Sauced is still in business and has decent Google reviews ratings. While the rescue included cleaner, more modern signage, Sauced has since opted for a more sports bar-y look.

Photo via Sauced Sports Bar/Facebook

Blue Water

205 First St. N, Jacksonville Beach
Taffer and hip-hop artist Lil Jon helped a Chinese immigrant take control of his beach bar. The bar was renamed Sydney Australian Beach Club during renovations and emphasized a shark theme. While doing well for a short time, a scathing health inspection in 2018 led to the bar’s closure in early 2019—less than a year after appearing on “Bar Rescue.” Google Street View indicates that the bar’s former location was torn down.

Photo via Sydney Australian Beach Club/Google

Freaki Tiki

28778 U.S., 28778 US Highway 19 N, Clearwater
Taffer found a used condom at this tiki bar before helping the bar rebrand as Frankie T's. Needless to say, the owners were scolded for neglecting their bar. Ditching Taffer’s concept, Frankie T’s went back to its dive bar theme until closing in 2017. The space has been occupied by the Florida-based kava franchise, Kava Culture Kava Bar, since October of 2021.

Photo via Kava Culture Kava Bar/Google

Cerealholics Cafe and Bar

1909 N 15th St., Ybor City
With less than two years in service, Cerealholics in Ybor City didn’t take long to attract the attention of the “Bar Rescue” team. During Taffer’s stint at Cerealholics, the bar ditched its nostalgic-centered theme for a more modern approach under The Loft Elevated Bar + Food. However, The Loft recently announced they would close due to family reasons.

Photo via The Loft Ybor City/Facebook

Phish Heads

1445 SW Main Blvd #170, Lake City
When the family-owned bar was struggling to stay afloat, Taffer gave it a remodel and chewed out the owners’ son, who wasn’t picking up the reins after 9 years behind the bar. Taffer renamed the bar Phish Tales, and it is still in business.

Photo via Flip the Switch Marketing Experts/Facebook

Fatballs Sports Bar and Grill

7457 103rd St., Jacksonville
Fatballs had a bad reputation and didn’t keep Taffer’s suggested renaming, Bayou Bar & Grill. The bar’s owners reverted to their original name after the building’s makeover and the bar then closed in 2019. As of this year, Jam’s Karaoke Bar & Restaurant currently occupies the space and maintains a positive rating on Google Reviews.

Photo via Fatballs/Google