On the season 4 premiere of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are
headed to Tempe, Arizona to rescue Rocky Point Cantina. Rocky Point Cantina is a death-metal bar run by two brothers who have apparently drained their parents' retirement fund to keep the bar open. Bar Rescue decided to
change the name to Havana Cabana Bar and Grill during the makeover.There has been a bit of drama since Bar Rescue came to makeover Rocky Point Cantina, so lets take a look at some reviews and updates of the bar since Bar Rescue came to town:
Reviews - There have been no reviews for Rocky Point Cantina since Bar Rescue came for the makeover.
Other Updates:
- The Rocky Point Cantina Facebook and Twitter pages stopped posting updates in June 2013.
- A facebook post on the Bar Rescue Facebook Page in May stated: "Just an fyi but the guy at Rocky Point cantina in Tempe Arizona is already posting negative things about what the show "did" to them." A post from Rocky Point Anthony said, "Sorry to anyone and everyone that came to see what bar rescue did to us they did not rescue anything they hurt it and that hole show is a fake and i will have the best you tube video and news reporters to make a stand that they never do this to another bar again!"
- A July 16th City Of Tempe meeting reviewed the Rocky Point Cantina, and there are 59 pages worth of info if you are interested in what was reviewed. They took a look at the previous visits to the bar by police, the live entertainment permits (outdoor ones denied), complaints by nearby businesses and residents, etc.
- A July 23rd meeting from Tempe also focused on Rocky Point Cantina/Havana Cabana, and said a live entertainment permit was refused at a previous meeting. Also said that the exterior modification done by Bar Rescue was done without authorization.
- In August, a metal band Kamelot moved their show in September at Rocky Point Cantina to another venue due to Rocky Point closing.
- A recent article in the Phoenix News Times blamed Bar Rescue for a name change of the bar, which exposed invalid permits for the Rocky Point Cantina, and lead to the closing of the bar. The people commenting seemed to not care and say it was deserved.
Conclusion:
It sounds like the Bar Rescue visit for Rocky Point Cantina ended up hurting the bar more than helping it. While the makeover done may have been nice, the proper permits were not obtained by the show, and the attention of the show resulted in the city of Tempe finding out about other permits for the bar that were not valid. The result of all of this caused the Rocky Point Cantina to close and made them cancel all upcoming metal concerts that were scheduled for the bar. The bar may have been doomed either way, but it will be interesting to see what information comes out after the episode airs.
Update from the end of the show: Six weeks after Bar Rescue left, staff reported that Havana Cabana brought in up to $6,000 a night. Steve continues to train Scott as general manager and Fran and Mary are finally enjoying their retirement. Anthony asked for his job back, but Scott refused.
To see how all of the bars from Bar Rescue are doing, go to the Bar Rescue Update page, and also Like us on Facebook or Follow Us on Twitter to stay up to date with all things involving Bar Rescue.
So you've done a thorough investigation, interviewing all parties involved as well as reviewing all non-partisan documentation? Or are you just spewing based on a 1 hour reality show and reading a couple articles?
ReplyDeleteSo let me get this straight...?
ReplyDeleteThis blog ^^ says it's a bad thing that Bar Rescue and Jon Taffer's exposed serious enough violations to the City to close the business?
I say the city of Tempe and it's citizens owe Bar Rescue a big THANK YOU for not only trying to help this business but to also protect the public health by stopping clear violations of health codes which would have closed down this bar before any sign violations.
Clearly these owners had no business running a bar. And Jon Taffer only exposed earlier something that hopefully would have been done anyway.
Congratulations to Jon Taffer and Bar Rescue for keeping the public safe by teaching bars the basics of health, sanitizing, and cleanliness.
It was clear from watching the video of the show that there were serious health violations. There doesn't need to be a review of "non-partisan" documentation to see that this bar was violating a big number of Maricopa County Regulations (the authority over the City of Tempe) while they were open for business. Knowing the codes of that jurisdiction, had a health inspector been present, last call would have been done immediately and other the illegalities would have come to light soon after.
ReplyDelete@Eric's statement included "Closing down was not Bar Rescue's fault in ANY WAY". That would require a little more investigation than you suggest.
ReplyDeleteI don't need to investigate as it wasn't me that made the generalist statement that Bar Rescue was not at fault in any way. I don't think they are 100% responsible but I certainly can't confirm that they had 0% responsibility either. You don't really understand the definition of "logic" do you?
ReplyDeleteI actually do...and as a matter of logic, it's only correct to conclude that the only party that can be blamed is the party that bears the responsibility as owners of the business.
ReplyDeleteSo YES. Can CAN say that Bar Rescue has 0% responsibility because it isn't their burden to pull the permits and comply with law. That ultimately rests on the owners.
Let's put it another way:
A patron walks into a bar and is served unlimited amounts of whisky one night. He gets behind the wheel of a car and kills 3 people. He goes to jail. But who else do you think is liable? The owners of the bar.
Anything that is under their control that happens on their property is their responsibility. Period.
You have now confirmed my statement that you don't understand logic. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYes, I did do all of those things. Maybe Bar Rescue sped up the process of this place closing down, but without Bar Rescue it was 100% imminent.
ReplyDeleteits pretty bad when a nobody with no bar experience can put their parents in a financial bind like scott did....retired parents losing everything while he has no skin in the game....what a jerk
ReplyDeleteWho cares whose fault it was that this festering shithole closed down? It needed to be closed to be a big reality check to the idiot Scott and his moronic parents who blew their retirement savings on their incapable son. Good job Scott. You made mommy and daddy proud. And to Anthony, you're a punk bitch.
ReplyDeleteYou sir are a brain dead moron.
ReplyDeleteThe cream always rises to the top. this bar was doomed from the start.
ReplyDeleteI went there Feb. 2012 sometime, the Anthony guy was exactly
ReplyDeletehow he was on the show, a know it all a** who was rude to everyone. The beer
was 50 cents and a dollar.....this turned into problems pretty fast. The whole
other side of the place was not even being used and there was no band. As a
matter of fact, at that time, I would never have even thought they had or would
ever have bands like that playing there. Considering the environment that
night, it was expected they would try to change but obviously made it worse by
adding bands. The bathrooms were not just disgusting, my gf said they had people selling
jewelry in the small little space and it felt very uncomfortable. Best of all,
not just one but 2 huge fights broke out that night and I never went back.....
Bar Rescue at least you tried but it seemed destined to fail long ago.
The owners of a business are ultimately responsible for insuring they and their contractors comply with all local regulations and laws. The producers of Bar Rescue, can't be blamed for a failure of the owner's responsibilities.
ReplyDeleteWhat investigation is needed? It's not Bar Rescue's responsibility. The City of Tempe denied the application use permit that was submitted by the owners...not Jon Taffer or his staff.
You can go ahead and investigate. The rest of us will be holding our breath.
If only Bar Rescue hadn't exposed Rocky Point Cantina for the rotting mess it was, they could have continued on their merry way for another two weeks.
ReplyDeleteAgree 100% with original poster...and where was the Board of Health in all of this? Seems to me that if the Board had gone in and inspected the bar then it would have been closed down long before Bar Rescue got there.
ReplyDeleteThe place was disgusting and was operating without the proper permits. Closing down was not Bar Rescue's fault in any way.
ReplyDeleteA lot of business that appear on Bar Rescue, Kitchen Nightmares, & Restaurant Impossible, you can tell that it is too late for them to be saved, esp.if it's a family own place and that's what I felt when I saw this episode.
ReplyDeleteIf those you complaining about Bar Resue's work to Havan Cabana/Rocky Point Cantina would read this WHOLE article, you will see that the problems with the bar started LONG BEFORE Bar Rescue got involved. The one who is to blame is Scott. Had Scott bothered to MANAGE the business properly, the City of Tempe wouldn't have a long and thick list of complaints and violations agains the business. By the time Bar Rescue got involved, the place was already doomed. Congratulations, Scott, for screwing your parents over and thinking only of yourself.
ReplyDeleteSo, by your statement, they aren't responsible for those three deaths.
ReplyDeleteYou'd be surprised how many place are not operating with proper permits....Stop being a poser....
ReplyDeleteIt's "Ensuring" not "Insuring" Insuring is what you do with a house, car etc...No wonder you iPhone generation people don't read books...
ReplyDeleteI think the basic problem is no one knows how permits work. First, you apply for a permit MOST cities, counties etc will let you perform work while the permit process is being applied for...
ReplyDeleteBefore or after "bar rescue" these entitled kids of the millenial generation didn't have chance either way. I bet they drive white BMW's that mommy n daddy bought
ReplyDeleteIf Bar Rescue was serious about "rescuing" bars then they should have focused on obtaining the correct permits and got permits for the construction. Instead they focused on painting the outside bright colors....
ReplyDeletelet it go John , you made some mistakes. Own them like a man and move on ...
ReplyDeleteIt was Bar Recue that made those violations. Does no one read anything entirely anymore??
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU!!
ReplyDeleteI'm sitting here reading these comments and I'm like HELLO! This is exactly WHY the bar owners reached out to Bar Rescue to begin with!! They knew their bar was headed down the drain, they were aware of all the problems they had, and that's why they asked to be RESCUED!! If anyone bagging on the owners in any comments above would have read the attached documents they would have seen the new proposal they submitted to the city explained how they were turning the bar around and it laid out EXACTLY how they were going to do it. Lay off of them! They were obviously interested in changing their old way of doing business and making it better, give credit where credit is due people! @Cory- you are absolutely right with what you said. This isn't the first bar that has had to deal with legal problems due to this production company's negligent operations...or the second or the third either. I'm not saying the show is the only one to blame, but I find it pretty crappy for a production company to come in and make everyone think they are "helping" a business when they can't even find it in themselves to check what the local building codes and compliance practices are before changing things. These owners had NO control over what was done while the production team was there, therefore the responsibility lies with whoever was doing the repairs. Smh.
I can't believe all the people on here who actually believe that Bar Rescue comes into ANY bar with the intent of actually helping them. It's all about ratings and getting those ratings as cheaply as they can. They don't really give a hot crap if these bars succeed or not.
ReplyDelete"Rescuing" a bar, or any business for that matter, can not be done in 3 days, 5 days, etc. If a business is in peril of closing it's a safe bet that there's more going on than a facelift/rebuild, clean up/de-roaching/mousing/ratting/etc., and a cash infusion. Permits can take weeks or months to obtain, several city counsel meetings to attend and discuss just to change the name let alone for any re-construction! Staff issues (not just personal but insurance, withholding's, etc.), past sales taxes past due, low stock (food, drink, plates, glasses, etc.) and a myriad of other things I won't waste time writing about!
ReplyDeleteThe show is what it is: For entertainment purposes only. Not unlike " wrasslin' " ....
You haven't read up on this place. Their history of violations and failure to secure permits long predates Bar Rescue's effort.
ReplyDeleteIf a business owner doesn't know (or doesn't care) that he does not have permits in place for his business model, that's the owner's fault. It is ridiculous to believe that a reality TV show is going to completely audit a company's business model, permits, past construction problems, past complaints to the police, etc. Any such problems should be brought to the attention of a business consultant by management.
ReplyDeleteOh, my, Bar Rescue "only" provides five figures (perhaps at times more) worth of renovations, makes a business clean out the filth, and provides five to six figures worth of publicity, and they expect to make a profit on their show?
ReplyDeleteCapitalism at work.
Your carpetbomb trolling of every update comment section in here is mindnumbingly annoying. It's as if you're an old date Taffer dumped in a bar, now out for sophomoric revenge bravely doled out from behind a keyboard. If you hate the show that much, blog somewhere else.
ReplyDeleteEven as I fed inadvertently feed the troll. Of coure, maybe a big bowl of Xanex might be in order for our blustering friend...
ReplyDelete"But if something doesn't change with our bridge soon, we probably only have about two months until we have to shut it down. Can you help us, John?"
ReplyDeleteThe bar's MANAGER should handle all paperwork concerning permits. Before & after any work in, on or around the bar, a manager does paperwork. Dealing w/city, county, state issues, paperwork should be completed by the bar manager. It is not that hard, u have to be awake & participate.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.entlawdigest.com/2014/02/26/2973.htm
ReplyDeleteActually I'm not, just someone that knows too well how this production company works
Your awfully crude. I guess that's why these shoddy producers of reality tv continue to make millions...cause there are plenty of morons like you to believe everything they watch.
ReplyDeleteIt's "you're". And your obsessive one-trick carpetbombing is still annoying.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you typically know what you are talking about Rochelle, but I'm afraid you don't necessarily have all the facts here. Unfortunately, it was my family that was featured in one of the more embarrassing episodes and what they showed is pretty much EXACTLY how it went down. They do seem to care. If they don't, they sure fooled them. It definitely save their business. I HATE reality shows but I think this one is different.
ReplyDeleteThey went from closing in two weeks to being open for a little longer. That means their debt was lowered at least a little.
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely not bar rescues' fault, but after reading what you have said you and the person you have been arguing with are literally dumber than a cold shaded rock.
ReplyDeleteSo you agree with me but call me dumb. So what does that make you?
ReplyDeleteDon't be mad that I'm more successful than you.
ReplyDeleteOh come on. You get what the guy said. If you want to complain about someone's spelling, perhaps you should use commas properly (should be one after etc.; also, your use of ellipsis is incorrect as it's in place of an omission, unless you're trying to omit periods which just makes you look like an idiot even further).
ReplyDeleteOh how much you suck, Ms. Lola.
And, actually, the "iPhone generation" visit libraries and read more books than your old ass does (I'm turning 64-years-old this year and even *I* don't have such ignorant thinking as you do, Ms. Lola).
Either way, the City of Tempe had denied various permits to the place in the past and they made changes anyway. While I'm not one to necessarily believe in the validity or necessity of permits, you're asking for trouble when you don't obtain them properly and that's exactly what happened to Rocky Point Cantina. Good riddance.
ReplyDeleteSome common sense though I find it despicable that the crews hired by Bar Rescue (who are all contractors of area local to the bar being rescued) didn't bother to obtain the proper permits (EITHER).
ReplyDeleteRegardless, the fact that the business owner for YEARS failed to apply for, obtain, and then chose to ignore the dis-approval by the City of Tempe says that the owner was ASKING for the place to be shut down. He cared more about money than he did the safety of his employees and patrons.
Hey Grandpa, my correction was limited to improper use of a word, nothing else. Now pick up your wrinkly balls off the floor and get laid or does your wife still have lock-jaw from blowing the Mailman? I have you know I am a published writer and what do you even know about today's generation, you old poser? Yes, look that word up "poser" and you will find that it describes you most accurately. Cash your Social Security check and go get that underage prostitute, troll. Love you! And have a nice day! :)
ReplyDeleteYou're a published writer. That makes two of us. Heads up: it doesn't take SHIT to be a published writer. Just because you are one doesn't mean you're a good writer. And, of course, seeing your excellence in resorting to sexual jokes and bullshit about age, I can tell that writing is your daytime job. Must be nice knowing your husband is the bread winner while you sit at home being an "author." Applause all the way around, Lola. You must lead such a glorious, interesting, and loving life.
ReplyDeleteAnd, no Social Security check. Not all of us need to live on welfare because, you know, we own businesses, have jobs, and don't have hundreds of pounds of weight forcing us to hide in our homes.
Is the pops in your name so because that's the sound the ground makes when you hurt it? No. I'm kidding. I'm sure you use a scooter instead of your feet.
No, YOU have a nice day, Lola.
Watched my last episode of this show today. Maybe the time away from it made me think a little more clearly. I used to think Tapper was helping but it's pretty obvious that it's an act (at least it is now). The yelling and screaming in every episode is old now and sounds like the acting found in a the sort of movie not made for the plot or acting. The idea that Tapper is "rescuing" a bar is clearly not the case he's putting on a show and I guess people including myself are stupid enough to buy into it. If you're going to rescue a bar, that includes training its staff and doing that in 3 days is just going through the motions and not really training. The only thing Tapper's crew does is put a shinny new paint job (apparently without the permits for it) on the bar. It should be called Bar Makeover.
ReplyDeleteAs for the permitting issue It's clear if I'm calling you to "rescue" my bar I don't know what I'm doing or don't have the money or time to do it and I've probably got permitting and/or fines/tax issues. However, if I call you in as an expert to "rescue" said bar and I've got to turn it over to you for however long at minimum the work that you do during that time should include you getting the proper paperwork (you are the expert). How does a rescue leave you with more problems. To be frank it should also include you teaching me and my staff to do the paperwork in the future and at least get a plan to work on the fines of the past. As for the permits they should have a brand new start as you just built brand new place (inside and out) with brand new/cleaned equipment which should now be all up to code since you did "rescue" it. So permits should no longer be an issue at least immediately--past fines sure but not current permitting issues. The bar owner/managers can not be responsible for filing for a project they don't know about after all the final makeover is a supposed to be a surprise so that paperwork has to be up to the Bar Rescue's crew. If there were issues afterwards then that would be back on the owner's hands. That aside the poor attitudes of the bar staff/owners seems to be a big problem in a lot of this places. Some may need a Tapper come to Jesus talk but as I said earlier Tapper's constant yelling and fake/hyped up anger is nauseating.
Best of luck to those of you involved with all that arguing and name calling on this post. I see it's gotten you really far. As for me I've wasted enough of my time writing this and watching Tapper's antics. I think I'll go find something productive to do.
Just saw the rerun. Probably the most clueless business owners I have ever seen as well as being really bad parents. Very nice people, but couldn't parent or own a business to save their lives. Now they are paying for it. Scott as bad as he is, could only do this harm with his parents help. This was a great venue, and almost impossible to not to make money. But there are always exceptions that you wouldn't believe unless you saw it yourself......
ReplyDeleteI agree, bar rescue came to a venue that had a band they hired to play and because bar rescue came in to help the bar get back on their feet it drew attention to the fact they didn't have there permits to have an outdoor venue ummm the person who buys and monitors permits is the owner you are an idiot fact is they got caught they asked bar rescue to help and did not disclose they didn't have proper permits! This is why you can't trust peoples word amymore.!
ReplyDeleteI think it is pretty simple, Who goes to a place called the Havana Cabana too listen to heavy metal music??????????
ReplyDeleteEpic fail...
It's bar rescues fault everyone shut up now
ReplyDeleteThis is as far as I'm going to read. The only comment I have is actually for LolaPops: You are rude and contribute nothing to the discussion worth reading.
ReplyDeleteProperty was foreclosed on in late 2013 with notice of auction set for January 2014. http://www.angrylender.com/foreclose/1001-e-8th-st-tempe-az-85281-20130910478
ReplyDeleteMetal kills another bar. Bad owners who can't follow Taffer's plan. smh
ReplyDeleteCan someone translate and add punctuation? ;-)
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to get good help these days
ReplyDeleteAnd, more importantly, buy everything that gets advertised
ReplyDeleteBo thanks for that educated, common sense guess. No need to respond to vultures that are not here for answers... just here to nit pick and have non productive arguments.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt! They just love looking at their posts online as though it makes them some kind of celebrity.
ReplyDeleteRight there it says they tried to go back to being a Metal Bar!!!! The very thing that cost them 1.2million in the first place! Stupid. Not surprised they couldn't get permits. The City was willing to over look the other invalid permits and let them operate as a Cuban restaurant, but once they saw the posts about the upcoming Heavy Metal Concerts.... before the permit was even submitted.... the City canceled the deal. I don't blame them a bit. Also.... I live here so I kind agree
ReplyDeleteThat's what happens when you don't get your permits, you get fined, shut down, and end up like this, or like the horse and hound, booking garbage bands like killing spree. I like watching this all happen and ks not even getting recognized, except for the garbage they are. Hahaha. Best episode ever!
ReplyDelete"But it wasn't just the show that allegedly did work without permits. Inspectors found building modifications were made without permits both before and after Massimiano bought the property in 2010. The repairs were going to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
ReplyDelete"That's what put us under, that's what put us under." "
^^^ With what the cameras showed as far as health code violations and the fact that their failure to obtain permits prior to the show it appears to have been inevitable that they go under.
Wasn't "Anthony" the prick that ran out because he couldn't deal with the stress? I think the best thing the parents could do is stop having it a family affair, and hire professionals to actually run the bar! Get and maintain the proper permits. The old bar was like a sewage dump! As an ASU alum I am ashamed that it was in the Tempe corridor.
ReplyDeleteYou are an idiot, and does not understand "Logic" or the "Law". How many ads do you have to watch on TV, or hear on the radio, until you understand that the bartenders and the bouncers are the "LAST" line of defense to prevent drunk drivers from driving or drinking to excess. If you are or were a bartender then by your statement there are probably lots of deaths around you.
ReplyDeleteParents love- hoping the best for their children, and then allowing uneducated, unexperienced and poorly-trained youth into a business worth hundreds of thousands of dollars is an absolute recipe for disaster. Sad to see as well all know loving parents unable to make the tough decisions. Best wishes.
ReplyDelete"...the attention of the show resulted in the city of Tempe finding out about other permits for the bar that were not valid."
ReplyDeleteThis site did that for us. How is it Bar Rescue's fault that existing (before they arrived) permits were invalid? It is not.
That said, if they changed the exterior without getting the proper permit that is their fault.
I just saw the rerun of the Rocky Point episode on cable. I think Jon Taffer would be a lot more successful if he'd ask questions and not just assume he knows everything: i.e. Here's what I want to do. What kind of permits will I need?
ReplyDeleteBut here's the big one: during the episode, he says: "There are a thousand Mexican bars and restaurants in Arizona, but only one with a Cuban theme, so we're sure to get lots of patrons. Hello? Jon? This is Arizona. Why do you think there are a thousand Mexican places? Because that's what people like. Speaking only for myself, if I was headed toward my favorite Mexican bar in Arizona (or anywhere else) and, as i pulled up, I noticed that it had turned Cuban, I'd just buzz on by and look for another Mexican place.
Just saw a rerun of this episode, read this page, and it seems like the bar went back to everything that was making them fail. Heavy Metal bands were playing there again (bands posted on social media saying they cancelled events there because it went out of business). From reading these notes, the horrible bartender/friend was back, and the son was running the place again. Not getting permits (just the Bar Rescue ones) does not tank a bar, it means some fines. Now, all of the original/new missing permits (non Bar Rescue ones), all the other issues found (because they were on the show apparently), the complaints from neighbors, and doing everything you were doing before the show, seems to be the problem for the eventual failure. Its easy to blame Bar Rescue for the failure, but the son/manager seems to be the real problem. And really, what did Bar Rescue do? They put thousands of dollars into the venue, brought in a real manager, and gave them an original theme. None of which lead to the downfall. Responsibility for your actions, a new concept....
ReplyDelete