Another Youngstown bar expected to be rescued

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Sources close to production have told The Vindicator that the Royal Oaks is not the only Youngstown bar to be featured on the SpikeTV series “Bar Rescue.”

Martini Brothers Burger Bar is said to be the next bar on the list to be rescued.

The burger bar, owned by Dan Martini, is located at 110 W. Federal St. downtown.

On Wednesday, Martini Brothers posted on its Facebook and Twitter accounts the following: “Slight change to burger night today, yes we still have $6.00 signature burgers but we will be closed today from 4:30-5:30! But no we can’t tell you why!”

Wednesday evening, there were production crew members spotted downtown.

Martini Brothers came to be in December 2013, promoting its speciality burgers.

The bar was previously the Lemon Grove, then Guy’s at the Grove and then The Knox Building.

On Wednesday, Dan Martini would not confirm if Martini Brothers is the next bar to be rescued.

He said production crews contacted several bars in the Youngstown area six to eight months ago — including his bar.

Production crew members and painters were at the Royal Oaks, located at 924 Oak St., on Wednesday.

The beloved East Side dive bar brought a crowd out on Tuesday evening for the show’s “stress test.” In the stress test, a crowd of patrons is invited in so Jon Taffer, the star of the show who is a bar and nightlife management expert, and his crew can judge how well the staff reacts under pressure.

Taffer came out and talked to the crowd and invited everyone back to Youngstown’s oldest bar to see its makeover.

A SpikeTV spokesman said “Bar Rescue” had not spent much time in Ohio except for a few episodes shot in Cincinnati.

“They liked the area and have found the people to be extremely hospitable and proud of their city,” the spokesman said in a statement.

“Bar Rescue” loved the Royal Oaks owners’ story and their bar. John and Louie Kennedy are the owners of the Oaks.

“The bar has been a historic fixture in the city for so long (first liquor license in Youngstown), and the two brothers who own it take great pride in being a Youngstown bar but have been struggling for the last few years,” the spokesman said.

He could not say when the episode would be broadcast.