Bar Rescue - Tradewinds Bar Update

On tonight's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Cotati, California to try to rescue Tradewinds Bar. Tradewinds is a bar that is co-owned by Eric Loria and Dan Thompson, but they also gave manager Chase Meyers a 20% stake for running the bar.  Chase isn't too focused on making the bar a success and even leaves to go to the bar across the street.  The bar is supposedly $300,000 in debt and a few months from closing.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to keep the name of the bar and it still goes by the name of Tradewinds. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Tradewinds Bar since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):


Positive Reviews:

• "went for the bar rescue reveal- had the meat calzone. My friend had the chicken one- they looked inconsistent- hopefully once they get used to the new menu that will changeAwesome, but overpriced- had a mai tai, was god, but small for price. Shot pool. Like the table-seemed new- but I never was in the bar before. I look forward to coming for live music."
• "The female owner is really sweet (didn't meet her husband), and the drinks are great! Pretty inexpensive too. The setting of the bar leaves something to be desired though. I'm not wild about the Gilligan/tropical theme. Before the remodel it was really dark and loungey which I loved. I also liked the old sign wayyy more... I'm sad it's gone."

Negative Reviews:

• "I won't be back here ever again. My first experience of this place was being on that show 'Bar Rescue'....I tried the new drinks being on the show and they were disgusting. Especially this cocoa puff milky concoction that made me want to vomit. However, to be kind I smiled and nodded at the camera as I choked it down. "
• "Awful terrible bar staff! Waited 20min just to be acknowledged by the bartender who was moving as slow as a snail....The bouncer was rude when I had asked if I had to wait in the long line again after I was already stamped and said yes you have to wait just like everyone else and then proceeds to let these two other girls just walk right in that they were friends with...I honestly love all bars and clubs but this place really was unwelcoming. I won't be coming back or encourage any of my friends to come. Definitely would have given no stars if I could."
• "The bar staff is very VERY untrained. 2 of the most popular cocktails ordered and they didn't know how to make them... A Manhattan, and a Moscow Mule.,,Wasn't busy when we were in...yet somehow took my friends 25 min to get our 2nd round....The music was way too loud for the crowd, and the building....
• So, horrible service, horrible bartenders, horrible drinks, and obnoxious atmosphere...? We won't be returning for a pregaming sesh here...ever. Maybe the newbie 21 year college students might be able to overlook all of the above for the new owners sake..."

Other News and Links:

• The Bar Rescue makeover happened in June 2016.
• Here are two preview videos of the episode from the Spike TV website - Video 1, Video 2.
• Here is the Tradewinds Bar Facebook Page and their website.
• Here are the Facebook pages of Dan (owner), Traci (owner), Eric (owner), Chase (owner/manager), Daniell (bartender). 
• The bar is having a watch party at the bar and the description of the event says, "Bar Rescue showing at 10pm! Well, October 23rd at 10pm on Spike TV, Tradewinds Bar episode will be aired. It's titled "Chase's Lounge"! For all of you who didn't know my family took part in a reality TV show . Have fun with it as they make me us look like the idiots that we are for doing the show. Actually it was a lot of fun. Just remember reality is not always reality. Hell I got called a lemon as if I were a car and should be returned. Lol."
• Tradewinds responded to a review right after the makeover stating, "The bathrooms are being addressed in Wednesday. They could only do so much in 36 hours. They wanted to replace the cement floors but the health department tied us up with so many things in order to serve food in bar that most of the improvements were items that you don't see . But brought the building up to code. We will continue to improve the bar and make it a great place for all to visit."
• Someone posted a video on Facebook of the bathrooms and the interior of the bar after the makeover showing old graffiti in the bathroom and old dirty floors in the bar.  Owner Eric responded to that video stating, "Mr. Mitchell, good job on your investigative reporting. What you failed to report in your story is that you came into the establishment when it was not opened to the public. If you don't like what you saw, all you have to do is not go to the establishment. That is the beauty of the freedom allowed to American citizens. The TV show only does what will be seen on TV. Did you actually take the time to ask the people working there what their side of the story was? Did you ask them if they had more than 5 hours of sleep every night the show was being filmed? Did you ask if the TV show took care of 100% of all the details? I assume not. If this video makes you feel all warm and comfy inside, then good for you. If you wanted to report the truth, you really missed the mark."
• According to Chase, Bar Rescue came back to the bar to film in September 2016, so look for Tradewinds to be on a Back to the Bar episode.

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer and Bar Rescue decided to keep the name of Tradewinds Bar so they still go by the same name.  The reviews since the Bar Rescue makeover are mostly negative with complaints about the service and the bartenders.  It seems like locals think that not much was done by Bar Rescue with the makeover.  The bar said that due to the changes with their food, the health department tied a lot of things up and Bar Rescue was unable to do things like replace the floor. Tradewinds doesn't seem upset with the makeover and they are trying to move forward with the Bar Rescue changes.


*To see how all of the bars from Bar Rescue are doing, go to the Bar Rescue Updates page, and also Like us on Facebook or Follow Us on Twitter to stay up to date with all things involving Bar Rescue.