Tonight on Spike TV is the special 'lost' episode of Bar Rescue where they will be showing the pilot of the show for the first time. Bar Rescue started airing on Spike TV in July of 2011, and this pilot was filmed in June of 2010. In the pilot episode, Jon goes to South Park Bar & Grill in Montclair, New Jersey. The bar has a hot head owner who is kicking both customers and employees out of his bar. He also doesn't seem to respect his employees or Jon Taffer's knowledge.
It appears that they renamed South Park Bar & Grill to The V Bar (short for Vodka Bar) during the makeover, but the name did not stick. The bar changed their name again to The Park Sports Bar not long after Jon Taffer made all of the changes. Lets take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for The Park Sports Bar since Bar Rescue came to their bar in 2010.
The Park Sports Bar closed in October of 2012 due to the bar losing their liquor license after years of rowdy behavior at the bar.
News and Links relating to the bar and the closure:
- Here are three preview videos of the episode on the Spike TV website, and Jon has his wife Nicole doing the recon as in other earlier Bar Rescue episodes.
- This Yelp review in June 2010 talked about a show filming at the bar, and stated that it was called "Bars on the Brink." So I guess that was the original working title for Bar Rescue.
- Here is an article that talked about the makeover of South Park and the name change to The V Bar. The article said the makeover was for a new series on Spike TV, and a comment in that article also said it was to be called "Bars on the Brink." Other comments talk about how crappy the bar was, and a supposed former employee claimed there were cockroaches everywhere.
- Here was the Park Sports Bar Facebook page, which was kept up to date until it shut down.
- Here is the owner Jeff's Facebook Page.
- The Yelp, Urbanspoon, and Foursquare reviews for the bar were not too good. People in the reviews and in the comments of articles said the location was great and they have one of the only liquor licenses in Montclair, but they didn't know how to run a bar.
- On May 30th 2012, "Prosecutor Kenneth Strait Jr. brought up 12 charges against the bar, including buying alcohol from a prohibited source and illegal drug use on the premises. The drug use allegation, as reported by The Montclair Times, occurred in 2009 when police on an ABC (Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control) inspection found owner Jeffry Melnikoff smoking pot inside the bar. Other charges include incidents initially reported over two years ago, including five reported bar fights, several with underage patrons. With each charge, the bar could face a 30-day liquor license suspension." (Link)
- On June 19th 2012, there was a city council meeting attended by about 50 neighbors of the bar who were objecting the renewal of the Park Sports Bar's liquor license. They contended that "blaring music from the bar and the profanity-laced shouting of its intoxicated patrons as they exit the place and hang around outside after closing has been disturbing their sleep for years." They also complained about "groups of anywhere from five to 30 "rowdy drunks" loitering outside the pub between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. on a regular basis." Despite the complaints, the liquor license was renewed with the only condition being that they had to hire a professional security guard outside the bar from 10pm to 2:30am.
- In October of 2012, Jeff Melnikoff plead no contest to the 12 charges against him filed on May 30th. This resulted in a 30-day liquor license suspension - 5 days for excessive noise, 15 days for a brawl outside the bar in December 2010, and 10 days for serving too much alcohol to a patron (Link). He closed the bar for good after that.
Conclusion:
Despite having a prime location and a hard to get liquor license in New Jersey (some people were saying it was worth about $700,000), Jeff let the trouble at the bar bring him to closure. The bar was in business for 12 years total, and closed a little over two years after Jon Taffer filmed the pilot episode at the bar.
*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.
I was guessing this was a pilot while watching it. Jon hardly yelled, and he had more hair. The show has def improved since the pilot. Anyone know if there will be another season?
ReplyDeleteTwo more seasons - http://www.barrescueupdates.com/2014/03/bar-rescue-renewed-for-another-20.html. Next should be in the fall
ReplyDeleteTaffer is the KING, Melnikoff is a SCHMUCK.
ReplyDeleteWhat a look, the guy was handed a successful make over and upgrades to his bar, and figured that he could just do whatever after that, his bar couldn't fail now? Moron, what works only work when you do NOT change it.
ReplyDeleteThe show is obviously staged from the beginning. The camera shots say it all. Most are not hidden. When you have camera guys walking around a bar taking shots of people you will not get reality. Phoney and staged or not. I still like the show.
ReplyDeleteI actually live RIGHT near here. I got a coupon for it in a little welcome package from the town when I moved in, but the place was already closed down. It really is in a great location right in the middle of town.
ReplyDeleteTaffer rocks - people are not too smart when they ask for help from someone who is known for what they do, which is consulting for bars and restaurant chains, and then go against what they tell you to be known as fact and science - if you don't listen , you are a dang idiot.
ReplyDeleteAlmost 900 bars saved, and many corporations seek his help to make their franchise businesses better - how could you not listen to what he says?
The ones who go against him usually look and act like Faux News viewers and climatE science deniers, supporters of the GOP and love Citizens Untied - and it is ok if they complain now that I said that, but if you do complain, you MUST EXPLAIN WHY YOU BACK THESE THINGS VS. HELPING THE WORLD, STANDING BEHIND CITIZENS RIGHTS, and what you get for hurting the rest of America and the world for you to make money. If you don't answer the last couple of sentences in your or response to defend these wrong things, you are a turd. Peace.
exactly
ReplyDeleteI talked to an owner who was on the show "Blue Frogs Local 22" I asked him that same question. He said the cameras are on you for so long that you forget they are there.
ReplyDeletestaged or not, figure it this way - the guy is what he is, and that fact is shown from the article above, and on the so called set up non reality you say this is - I still love it too, but move of these clowns could not act their ways out of bags with cameras running, and that is a fact. Let us not forget that the guy does actually save all these bars and businesses as well - so there's that.
ReplyDeleteUsed to live down the street from there...used to love the food..
ReplyDeleteReally? FOX News is involved...you are the nut case!
ReplyDeleteIt really WAS in a great location
ReplyDeleteWhere's Nalani's cute self at now days??
ReplyDeleteI was only there once. It was during the time it was called V Bar. I sat outside, so I never saw the interior. The staff was freindly to the point where it was almost annoying! The parking stinks. A few months later I noticed the name change. I regret now not going insude to look.
ReplyDeleteI agree, sometimes an over-friendly staff can be annoying.
ReplyDeleteWTF are you talking about?
ReplyDeleteI have a buddy that worked on the show and said that the results are real, and Taffer is real. The only thing that is difference is clever editing definitely does make Taffer look better.
ReplyDeleteSo what if it is staged , he rescues these bars and it is sad that many wont follow his recommendations, or change the names back, to keep their business up and running.... all the free work they get from revamping their bars worth ththousands trying to.help them get out of debt and they still not satisfied and end up right where they started. More in debt snd failures. The ungratefulness is just stupid.
ReplyDeleteIt was obvious that the guy who started smoking was staged to spike up the drama. This owner was a straight loser and looked like he was under the influence the whole time Jon was there. This is one where I wish he had helped the workers find jobs and walked off the set. The owner was one of the biggest douche-bags (even gave those 2 meatheads from Tailgate? a run for their money). You can't run a business with a owner like that.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for this show to come back. Best show on spike TV by far
ReplyDeleteMy only question is.. why wasn't it aired until now!???
ReplyDeletebar wasnt always South park -- has been many bars over years all closed all failed
ReplyDeleteYou are one misinformed asshole
ReplyDeleteI think it's silly to complain about an over-friendly staff, that just sounds incredibly nitpicky if you ask me. There are far too many bars with nasty and unpleasant staff, most people would kill for a bar with an "over-friendly staff"
ReplyDeleteYou are one brain-dead moron.
ReplyDeleteNo you are.
ReplyDeleteYou're an idiot.
ReplyDeleteThere was also one more day where the bar was open under the old name before the re-opening, and the experts didn't show up until later in the episode.
ReplyDeleteand that would put you into the scumbag piece of shit, cunt mother fucker position.
ReplyDeleteIf I am a nut case, that makes you a the pus inside someone's infected anal fistula
ReplyDeleteFunny thing, Sean, all you wrote was that, instead of expounding on the points, and making a case for yourself, other than to be the troll piece of ass cheese you can't help being - keep commenting to show how ignorant you are; as it really shows just how low, dumb, greedy, childish, selfish , and the true diehard trash you are.
ReplyDeleteUnless you can make points to defend why you said what you said - until then, consider yourself the little shitty cunt you are, and don't forget to spit after you are done sucking the cum of and fecal matter from the ass of your GOP friends. OR YOU CAN MAKE T HE POINT TO DEFND WHY YOU SAID WHAT YOU SAID, you small minded cock.
thanks. btw.
ReplyDeleteTotal agreement
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the Joe Schmoe show too, LOL
ReplyDeleteSorry to complain. They literally wouldn't leave us alone. Swooning over my date!!
ReplyDeletebar owner had the worst toupee ever.
ReplyDeleteNo need to apologize. I just don't like people who try to act fake. There are ways to be police, nice, get a good tip, and seem genuine at the same time.
ReplyDeleteMatt,
ReplyDeleteSimilar to the clever editing that happened with the “black shirt switching” episode, this episode also includes “ingenious editing” during the recon:
• Before the recon, when Jon and his wife talk in the car, it’s pouring rain outside and it was obviously filmed during the evening/nighttime.
• When Nicole leaves the car, it’s the same characteristics as above.
• When she enters the bar (a few seconds later), it’s daytime (cloudy) and wet on the pavement (maybe a very light rain), but not pouring (camera angles from inside the bar).
• During the recon, it’s the same, as seen through the windows.
• When Nicole leaves the bar and walks towards the car, it’s back to being very dark and pouring rain.
• Then, Jon leaves for the bar in pouring rain and when he enters the bar, it’s very dark outside.
If you want to see the contrast, capture a picture of when his wife and Jon are in the bar at different times using the same camera angle. Remember that it’s was supposed to be very dark when she left the car to begin the recon.
Uh...yes it is.
ReplyDeleteYeah, there is clever editing in most episodes, which is why they make everyone wear the same outfit for 5 days in a row. That way they can rearrange footage as they please.
ReplyDeletelol no you didn't!
ReplyDeleteI think what you guys are calling 'clever editing' are normal production practices required to capture presentable video and to show talent in a professional light.
ReplyDeleteIn a social venue the owner's personality has to win over the socialites. This guy acted dead inside, just because you're not making money doesn't mean you let it get to you so bad that your customers see you as a sulking lurch.
ReplyDeleteCome on man, lighten up and get engaged with your customers. Every successful bar I have ever seen the owner(s) are friends with the customers and they socialize with them.
Exactly the reasons my girlfriend and I never returned to the bar... gross bathrooms, raging owner/manager. He should spend less time in the gym and more time cleaning his bar!
ReplyDeleteBest Question on this whole site!!!!
ReplyDeleteMelnikoff is the worst possible bar owner and a terribly human being to boot. I enjoyed seeing this place fail, and I hope the dickhole lost his entire personal wealth along with it, including his penis extension of a car.
ReplyDeleteWow what A douchebag anyone know what the owner is dojng these days? In jail, smoking weed still, working at mcdonalds ?
ReplyDeleteNew Jersey mook. Shown the path of righteousness by Jon Taffer and crew. Sad.
ReplyDeleteI like the pilot so much better. The over theatrics are not necessary, in this episode when he is a normal guy the people seemed to perform better.
ReplyDeleteYou can lead a horse to water...
ReplyDeleteNot surprised it closed for losing its liquor license. The red corvette convertible solidified my opinion of that the owner was a douche bag and you can't fix douche bag.
ReplyDeleteSocialism doesn't mean everyone is happy "peace"? Look it up! Your naive and the fact that you attack one group and not all shows your pseudo intellectual views!!! Peace TURD!!
ReplyDeleteSo the owners/managers act like idiots on purpose? They do it just for the fun and attention, like volunteers at a carnival hypnosis session? Because many of them sure look like asses. They don't mind acting like complete morons for a national audience?
ReplyDeleteI think they're not acting I think they are idiots, asses, and morons. That's why their bars are failing.
You were doing well until you threw in "...The ones who go against him usually look and act like Faux News viewers
ReplyDeleteand climatE science deniers, supporters of the GOP and love Citizens
Untied...". You could just as easily said "Obama supporters, Global Warming religious zealots, partisan political hacks, etc." or something else that has nothing at all to do with the subject whatsoever.
And in doing so you've made yourself out to be an idiot with your utterly off-topic, irrelevent post.
Trollin', trollin' trollin'
ReplyDeleteAs if anyone gives a fuck what your opinion is, other than to be against what I said, jerk off. Irrelevance is a word you should look up - means, not worth discussing, schmuck, so the comment is relevant to you, assface, since you mentioned the non relevance of it, duh - and by the way, your moniker is a religion, one that would not criticize this, and actually support what and why I said it, you hypocrite fuck. Ha, and you even 'liked' your own post, so proud to be a douchebag...no one agrees with you, and that is how it should be.
ReplyDeleteand like a turd you respond with no good answer
ReplyDeleteJust saw this show on December 7th. The owner probably needs some mental health help. Depression, Borderline Personality Disorder, Bipolar? He's gotta be on those spectrums.
ReplyDeleteSome people just dont want to win. Just this world now stop and look
ReplyDeleteof course that would never work until the Lord God Almighty blinds you
I believe the owner Jeff was mildly retarded or has a syndrome of some sort. Or he's a drug addict with obvious brain damage.
ReplyDeletebad management
ReplyDeleteIt turns out an in-depth investigation revealed that actually "The ones who go against him" are Al Gore worshippers, alarmists, chicken littles, Democrites, voted for Obama twice, are right now supporting Hillary, and get all their "news" from MSNBC and The View.
ReplyDeleteBut in any case, what does that have to do with Bar Rescue? NOTHING, moron!
Your "office"? You mean the dumpster behind the 7-Eleven?
ReplyDeleteESAD
ReplyDeleteESAD MoFo
ReplyDelete