Martini Brothers now named 'The Federal' after 'Bar Rescue' makeover

By sarah lehr | slehr@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

A crowd gathered outside Martini Brothers Burger Bar cheered as Jon Taffer, the famously abrasive host of Spike TV’s “Bar Rescue,” stepped out onto West Federal Street shortly before 10 p.m. Friday.

Taffer shouted to be heard over the din, wagged his finger and assured the crowd that nothing on “Bar Rescue” was scripted. “If anyone says otherwise, bust ’em,” he said.

The burger bar was the second Youngstown establishment to be featured on “Bar Rescue.” The docu-reality show also filmed at The Royal Oaks Bar & Grill at 924 Oak Street earlier this month.

A crowd of more than a hundred lined up Friday for a chance to be on TV while “Bar Rescue” filmed the unveiling of its overhaul to the bar.

The most notable change appeared to be the name – a new sign labeled the establishment as The Federal.

Phil Snyder of Boardman, who stood in line to enter the bar Friday, was not pleased with the new name. Snyder, a regular at Martini Brothers, said he hoped the show didn’t change the bar’s menu and especially not its award-winning burgers.

Jodie Chandler and Karen Fortunato, both of Poland, also spoke positively of the Martini Brothers food, but said they had been dissatisfied with its service.

“You don’t want to see another place in this area not make it,” Chandler said. “I think it’s great the show’s here.”

Taffer is notorious for his confrontational, no-holds-barred approach to managing people.

“He gets people in line,” Chad Mighell of Toccoa, Ga., said of the show’s host. “When you have a strong leader, you’ve got a strong crew.”

“Bar Rescue” filmed the “stress test” portion of its program at Martini Brothers on Tuesday. During the test, the show packs the bar with customers to evaluate how well the staff works under pressure.

Martini Brothers Burger Bar first opened in 2009 at the Golf Dome in Girard. It replaced the Lemon Grove Bar when it moved to its current location in the Knox Building at 110 W. Federal St. in 2013.

Before entering The Federal on Friday, prospective customers had to sign a release and don a wristband. A member of the crew covered up any logos on their clothing with tape.

Taffer told the crowd not to be shy about sending food or drinks back. Above all, Taffer instructed, they should behave as customers and act natural.

“By no means do you look directly into the camera,” a member of the crew said. “You will look like a huge idiot on national TV.”

“Bar Rescue” has not confirmed when the shows featuring Martini Brothers and Royal Oaks will air, but Kirkwood Capron of Pittsburgh waits eagerly. Capron, a “Bar Rescue” fan, traveled for the filming Friday. It was his first time in Youngstown.

“The way he turns these bars around – unbelievable,” Capron said.