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"Bar Rescue" begins at Martini Brothers for second Valley makeover
By Kalea Hall
and ROBERT CONNELLY
YOUNGSTOWN
Another “Bar Rescue” reveal is expected to happen later this week at Martini Brothers Burger Bar downtown.
The speciality burger bar in the Knox Building, 110 W. Federal St., had been rumored since last week to be next on the list to get “rescued” by Spike TV’s team.
Sources said Monday the bar would have its makeover this week for the docu-reality series starring Jon Taffer, a bar-management and nightlife expert.
Taffer and the “Bar Rescue” crew go to bars throughout the nation to give them a physical makeover and to identify poor business practices.
On Monday, the production crew was stationed behind Martini Brothers in a parking lot on Commerce Street. Some crew members were outside the front entrance.
Spike has not confirmed if Martini Brothers is next on the list. As usual with the shooting of a TV series, there is an effort not to let much news out.
Cameras were spotted at the bar Saturday night.
The crowd was told Monday night that a “stress test” would be tonight at the downtown establishment. That is a segment of each episode in which patrons are crowded into the bar to see how the staff reacts under pressure and then is evaluated and improved.
According to its Facebook group, there was a celebration for the sixth anniversary of the Lemon Grove space. The Knox Building Facebook page alerted those planning to attend that there were cameras there, but they could not say why.
The Facebook page hinted broadly: “Also you may need to present an ID and sign a TV Appearance release before entering. Please come and be patient though it will be worth it!”
Martini Brothers’ original location opened in 2009 at the Golf Dome in Girard. In late 2013, Martini Brothers, operated by Dan Martini, opened downtown in the former Lemon Grove location.
A security man working the door said there was filming in progress about 7:30 p.m. and the sixth anniversary party was to begin at 7 p.m. Crews were working on setting up lights and exterior objects Monday night, such as a worker on a roof next door to the Knox Building who set up a light on people who would walk into the establishment.
A number of people stood in the rain hoping to get into the bar during night one of filming of the television show at 9:30 p.m. Monday.
Chelsea Costello, 27, and Chandler Beall, 26, both of Girard, waited in the rain and said they grew up with the Martini family. The two had dinner at The Royal Oaks, which was worked on by the Spike team last week. “It’s much cleaner, more well lit,” Costello said of the revamped Oaks on the city’s East Side. “There was a lot more people in there for dinner than normal.”
The Girard residents both hope the food at Martini Brothers stays the same, especially the macaroni and cheese and grilled cheeseburgers. “It’s working for itself because the other three bars weren’t succeeding, but this one took off,” Beall said of the other Martini locations. “It’s going to be packed [this weekend], but on the weekend it’s usually packed.”
Beall also said he hopes “Bar Rescue” expands the bar to “get a little bit bigger.”
They were among seven to 10 people who waited in the rain. “We were hoping to just see [the filming]. We watch the show every week” with our seven kids, said Hope Fossesca, 39.
The Lemon Grove had its own dynamic following of patrons to its artsy, unique atmosphere. Pieces of the shuttered Lemon Grove were still visible at Martini Brothers.
After the Lemon Grove came Guy’s at the Grove and then the Knox Building at that location.
Martini Brothers provided a new chance for the spot to gather a crowd of loyal patrons. It brought the food, the atmosphere, the party and the art – the McKelvey Gallery of Fine Art offered local artists a chance to showcase their work.
In addition to the first-floor gallery, the bar’s third floor was renovated to have a full-size gallery.
While the “Bar Rescue” crew has been in town, the city and the Youngstown Film Commission have worked to help get what is needed for the production.
“The crew has been incredible to work with,” said Michael McGiffin, coordinator of downtown events and special projects. “‘Bar Rescue’ has done an incredible job. We have been helping secure parking for production vehicles and obtaining building permits and looking for office space.”