Bar Rescue in the Omaha Metro (possibly 3 bars)

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Fri Mar 07, 2014 4:55 pm

'Bar Rescue' host calls Old Market one of the best downtowns in America

Andrea Kszystyniak: World-Herald staff writer wrote:I thought (the Old Market) was one of the best downtown destination areas I’ve seen in America. It’s special. It’s really good to see that there’s great mixology bars, really fun restaurants coming in there, we had some great dinners down there. ... It’s very special, and few cities have an area like that that’s as special. We really enjoyed being there. Honestly, Omaha has a far more sophisticated mixology and restaurant marketplace than many people think, and I thought it was terrific.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Fri Mar 07, 2014 4:59 pm

I still haven't been to Berry & Rye. Need to make a point of it sometime soon.

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Fri Mar 07, 2014 6:39 pm

Great to hear praise from someone who is one the road all the time and experiences different bars and restaurants all the time. It sounds like most people's reactions when they visit the Old Market for the first time. Many never imagined that Omaha would have such an eclectic and cosmopolitan area.

Collin · Post by **Collin** » Sun Mar 23, 2014 10:51 pm

The Council Bluffs Bar Rescue episode aired tonight. Craziest episode I've ever seen! Rerun is on in about 10 minutes on Spike.

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Mon Mar 24, 2014 7:50 am

Collin wrote:The Council Bluffs Bar Rescue episode aired tonight. Craziest episode I've ever seen! Rerun is on in about 10 minutes on Spike.

The rerun will also air next Sunday at 7pm before the new episode.

Uffda · Post by **Uffda** » Mon Mar 24, 2014 8:44 am

Review: 'Bar Rescue' finds a one-of-a-kind disaster in Council Bluffs

Reality TV, intentionally and not, obviously distorts events, but if even one-tenth of the madness depicted is genuine, this is a deeply dysfunctional group.

http://www.omaha.com/article/20140323/G ... zA1vVxh668" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

S33 · Post by **S33** » Mon Mar 24, 2014 12:06 pm

Saw that episode last night. Right as the bar tender "expert" was drilling them on pouring/mixing/serving, after they had the blow out fight in the office, I knew then that this would be the first Bar Rescue Taffer walked from.

The owners and their staff drank their life savings. How embarrassing for the city of Council Bluffs.

Omaha_Gabe · Post by **Omaha_Gabe** » Mon Mar 24, 2014 1:04 pm

The show was as entertaining as honey boo boo. It is a shame there is another blow to CB. 1st Farrah, now this. Many people think of CB as the trailer park trash across the river without seeing how it has improved and yes, there are large houses similar to west O, not all trailers and tin shacks. I've only lived here 1 year but I think its great (closest to living in Omaha with a legal marriage

)

Omababe · Post by **Omababe** » Wed Mar 26, 2014 7:52 am

Uffda wrote:Review: 'Bar Rescue' finds a one-of-a-kind disaster in Council Bluffs

Reality TV, intentionally and not, obviously distorts events, but if even one-tenth of the madness depicted is genuine, this is a deeply dysfunctional group.

OMG that was a train wreck!

Unfortunately it reinforces the stereotype of Council T-u-c-k-y.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Thu Apr 24, 2014 9:51 am

Downtown Omaha bar will be on 'Bar Rescue' Sunday

Andrea Kszystyniak: World-Herald staff writer wrote:The Bar Rescue episode featuring downtown's Taza Hookah Lounge, 1507 Farnam St., will air on Spike TV on Sunday. The show also visited the O'Face Bar in Council Bluffs and Sorties Tavern (formerly O'Banion's Bar and Grill) in Bellevue.

Post by **Brad** » Thu Apr 24, 2014 9:56 am

Coyote wrote:Downtown Omaha bar will be on 'Bar Rescue' Sunday

Andrea Kszystyniak: World-Herald staff writer wrote:The Bar Rescue episode featuring downtown's Taza Hookah Lounge, 1507 Farnam St., will air on Spike TV on Sunday. The show also visited the O'Face Bar in Council Bluffs and Sorties Tavern (formerly O'Banion's Bar and Grill) in Bellevue.

Hit That Dive will be broadcasting live from Taza on Sunday during the their Bar Rescue episode.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Thu Apr 24, 2014 9:59 am

Brad wrote:Hit That Dive will be broadcasting live from Taza on Sunday during the their Bar Rescue episode.

What do you mean by "broadcasting live"? What will be broadcasted and what will it be broadcasted on?

Post by **Brad** » Thu Apr 24, 2014 10:05 am

Coyote wrote:
Brad wrote:Hit That Dive will be broadcasting live from Taza on Sunday during the their Bar Rescue episode.
What do you mean by "broadcasting live"? What will be broadcasted and what will it be broadcasted on?

I am assuming live tweeting.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Thu Apr 24, 2014 10:08 am

"Live tweeting"? Isn't that redundant?

as opposed to what other type of tweeting?

Post by **Brad** » Thu Apr 24, 2014 10:11 am

Coyote wrote:"Live tweeting"? Isn't that redundant? :P as opposed to what other type of tweeting?

Lol, yes.

I don't make this stuff up. I think it started with tweeting from a live event like a ball game, but I think it has morphed in to tv as well now.

Post by **Brad** » Thu Apr 24, 2014 3:12 pm

Live on ustream

http://www.hitthatdive.com/2014/04/bar- ... h-bar.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Post by **Brad** » Fri Apr 25, 2014 1:44 pm

Couple trailers...

http://www.omaha.com/article/20140425/G ... 1qruVdj6WE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Sun Apr 27, 2014 5:20 pm

Bump: T-minus 3 hours!

Post by **Brad** » Sun Apr 27, 2014 8:06 pm

Awesome... Taffer called it "The Old Market Mixology District."

guitarguy · Post by **guitarguy** » Sun Apr 27, 2014 8:10 pm

Wow I do remember when this place opened what a nightmare!

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Sun Apr 27, 2014 8:51 pm

I'm glad I never ventured in there...

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Sun Apr 27, 2014 10:01 pm

I was more impressed with this bar than the other 2 Omaha area bars that were on already. At least everyone, except for the manager was on board and did whatever it took to make the place better.

Omaha_Gabe · Post by **Omaha_Gabe** » Sun Apr 27, 2014 11:18 pm

I used to love Bar Rescue but I went to all 3 filmings and now I can't watch without seeing how staged everything is and how the remodels are half a$$ed

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 7:41 am

Staged? You mean like every other "reality" show on TV? I am amazed how people are show shocked with how all the Bar Rescue filming went down in Omaha. Did you really think all of that drama that appeared on the previous episodes was real? I find reality TV interesting but have never put a lot of faith in the real in reality. That's why the ending of "The Hills" was so brilliant.

Greg

Omaha_Gabe · Post by **Omaha_Gabe** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 7:45 am

Greg S wrote:Staged? You mean like every other "reality" show on TV? I am amazed how people are show shocked with how all the Bar Rescue filming went down in Omaha. Did you really think all of that drama that appeared on the previous episodes was real? I find reality TV interesting but have never put a lot of faith in the real in reality. That's why the ending of "The Hills" was so brilliant.

Greg

I knew the drama was staged but I had no clue that the remodel was staged for TV. For some odd reason I assumed they would have given them a quality remodel- not something they would have to go back and fix after filming

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 9:14 am

He had a crew transform the architecture of the Store Front overnight? Or as he said (I forget his clever term for it) to 'dress' the entrance to market it's product, and you think that would last a nice winter blowing snowstorm? It did look like they gave him some fashionable furnishings, cleaned the place up, redesigned his layout... But it looked like they just put lipstick on the circular bar... What can you really accomplish in an overnight transformation?

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 11:42 am

Omaha_Gabe wrote:
Greg S wrote:Staged? You mean like every other "reality" show on TV? I am amazed how people are show shocked with how all the Bar Rescue filming went down in Omaha. Did you really think all of that drama that appeared on the previous episodes was real? I find reality TV interesting but have never put a lot of faith in the real in reality. That's why the ending of "The Hills" was so brilliant.

Greg

I knew the drama was staged but I had no clue that the remodel was staged for TV. For some odd reason I assumed they would have given them a quality remodel- not something they would have to go back and fix after filming

If you watch the countdowns on the shows, the construction timeframes are very very short. I don't think there is anyway they could do any sort of significant construction.

Greg

GetUrban · Post by **GetUrban** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 12:53 pm

Wonder if they pulled a building permit for these projects. That alone is usually a 4-6 week process in Omaha.

I had never heard of a hookah bar before I watched this last episode. No desire to ever try it, especially now. Word is they brought hookah and the Oasis name back since the filming. It also makes me wonder how many restaurants in general have unsanitary kitchens and bars. Maybe I don't really want to know.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 1:10 pm

GetUrban wrote:Wonder if they pulled a building permit for these projects. That alone is usually a 4-6 week process in Omaha.

I had never heard of a hookah bar before I watched this last episode. No desire to ever try it, especially now. Word is they brought hookah and the Oasis name back since the filming. It also makes me wonder how many restaurants in general have unsanitary kitchens and bars. Maybe I don't really want to know.

Good points, but what is the dollar limit before a building improvement necessitates a permit? If it is under $10k, you see what they get.

It only heard of Hookah Bars because of this place, which makes you wonder whether he was right, that Omaha doesn't have a market to support such an establishment.

From Bar Rescue Update:

UPDATE - The owner Jesse stated in the comments section that his liquor license for Oasis/Taza operates under a Cigar Bar License. Therefore, the state of Nebraska requires him to sell tobacco to maintain his liquor license. That is the reason why he brought the hookahs back with the help of Hookah John. I guess Bar Rescue overlooked that detail when doing the makeover.

They also shunned their suggestion to be 21+ and are back to 18+

Finally: there is a thread on here with the website of all the restaurants who have failed city inspections, and what they failed... It is a sad state of affairs for some restaurants...

GetUrban · Post by **GetUrban** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 1:55 pm

It's possible the renovations were minor enough to not require a building, electrical, or plumbing permit. Paint, cabinetry, and flooring would not require any permits, of course.

Here's a link to the permit requirements:

http://www.cityofomaha.org/planning/per ... Itemid=7#4

They implied Omaha has too small of a population to support a hookah bar, but they based it on the city limit population of 412,000 +-....not on the 800k metro population. Maybe they figured there would be fewer hookah connoisseurs coming in from the burbs.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 2:23 pm

GetUrban wrote:They implied Omaha has too small of a population to support a hookah bar, but they based it on the city limit population of 412,000 +-....not on the 800k metro population. Maybe they figured there would be fewer hookah connoisseurs coming in from the burbs.

That statement made me wonder; did they do any research on the Omaha market before they arrived, claiming Omaha was a 412k town always makes me suspect; did he know anything about the hookah connoisseurs (he spouted out a figure of how many were in the area) or was he solely relying on his 'expert'; did he come in already predisposed to changing this bar into a dance night club that he was already familiar with?

GetUrban · Post by **GetUrban** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 5:16 pm

I agree. Their assumptions of what type of bar will succeed in any given location over the long haul are suspect. I'll speculate they mostly base their decisions on advertising demographics for the liquor products you see so prominently placed in the show and liquor adds that run during the show. That's where they make most, if not all of their money. They have created some really cool bars though. I'll give them credit for that. I don't envy that job, considering some of the sh!th0les they've had to work with.

Post by **BRoss** » Sat May 03, 2014 4:31 pm

Went to Taza last night with some friends. The drinks were overpriced the the music just didn't fit a hookah lounge. On top of that, they were charging a $5 cover for seemingly no reason. Needless to say, we didn't stick around long.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Mon May 05, 2014 10:20 pm

Bluffs council backs denial of liquor license renewal for watering hole featured on 'Bar Rescue'

Tim Rohwer: World-Herald News Service wrote:Three council members who opposed the continued liquor license, along with Mayor Matt Walsh, felt the show put Council Bluffs in a bad light.

Walsh said he has received emails from around the country, saying how the show was embarrassing for the city.

"I understand this is a reality show, but the depiction of this inaccuracy has caused irreparable harm to the city," he told the owner, Matthew Overmyer.

Post by **Brad** » Fri May 30, 2014 11:45 pm

There is a line to get in to Taza tonight!

jessep28 · Post by **jessep28** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 4:16 pm

Follow up episode to feature Sorties in Bellevue and O-Face in Council Bluffs to air Sunday.

'Bar Rescue' returns to Bellevue and Bluffs bars

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 8:24 am

Wonder how that is going to go. Hopefully for both of them it is much better than last time.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 8:43 am

skinzfan23 wrote:Wonder how that is going to go. Hopefully for both of them it is much better than last time.

I don't know if it was in that article, but I heard they sent in hidden cameras to observe their 'new' practices, but as you could guess....

Trips · Post by **Trips** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 11:29 am

Sorties is or was for sale according to the website below. The interesting thing is that they never used the kitchen equipment. I remember the new food looking really good.

"The entire bar was updated in November with over $160k in brand new kitchen and bar furniture and appliances. Current owners sales are based solely on alcohol sales however the new owner can break in the new kitchen creating another revenue stream!"

http://www.bizbuysell.com/Business-Oppo ... n/1158816/

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 11:38 am

Trips wrote:Sorties is or was for sale according to the website below. The interesting thing is that they never used the kitchen equipment. I remember the new food looking really good.

"The entire bar was updated in November with over $160k in brand new kitchen and bar furniture and appliances. Current owners sales are based solely on alcohol sales however the new owner can break in the new kitchen creating another revenue stream!"

http://www.bizbuysell.com/Business-Oppo ... n/1158816/

So are they just taking the money in a dump and run?
Don't they have to sign some sort of waiver so they can't just take all the new renovation equipment and selling for a prophet?