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Royal Oaks in for a rough ‘Rescue’? Tune in Sunday
By GUY D’ASTOLFO
YOUNGSTOWN
“Bar Rescue” caused a stir during its August visit to two Youngstown watering holes.
The Spike reality-TV show gave The Royal Oaks and Martini Bros. Burger Bar physical – if not philosophical – makeovers.
Though the new looks at both bars have been on display for a couple of months, details of their episodes have been shielded by a veil of secrecy, enforced by nondisclosure clauses.
That will begin to change Sunday when the first of the Youngstown episodes – The Royal Oaks – premieres at 10 p.m. The episode on Martini Bros. – renamed The Federal by the show – airs Oct. 25.
In every hourlong “Bar Rescue” episode, Jon Taffer, the hard-nosed bar management expert, sizes up a struggling establishment for its strengths and weaknesses, and then makes big changes. He’s not always polite about it, either.
Taffer abolished The Oaks’ quirky decor. He attempted to restore the room’s 1930s look.
It’s safe to say that Taffer also took a dim view of the bar’s management. Taffer is shown having a profanity-laced shouting match with The Oaks’ owners in a sneak-peek video released by the show.
The summary of the episode on the show’s website offers more details on what to expect. It reads:
“The oldest bar and BBQ joint in Youngstown, Ohio, is in the pits as feuding brothers drive away customers with their obnoxious behavior. Can Jon Taffer put the fire back in their bellies before their business goes up in smoke?”
The Royal Oaks is owned by brothers Louie and John Kennedy, who are taking a good-natured stance on what appears to be some brutal treatment.
The Oaks always closes early on Sunday, and it will not be open to the public when “Bar Rescue” airs.
But the Magic Tree Pub and Eatery, 7463 South Ave., Boardman, will have a viewing party.
John Kennedy said his bar is too small to host the crowds that would come to a viewing party, and he’s glad the Magic Tree will welcome folks to watch.
“I have been encouraging friends of mine with bars to have a party,” Kennedy said. “I want Youngstown to profit from our ‘buffoonery.’”
Sandy Reda, who owns the Magic Tree with her husband, Phil, said they like to support other locally owned bars. The couple visited The Royal Oaks after its makeover and asked Louie Kennedy about their idea to host a viewing party.
“[Louie] said, ‘Absolutely, do it’,” Sandy Reda said. “It will be fun, and people are interested in it. All of the televisions on the pub side will have the show on. We have a nice sound system and the volume will be up.” The pub has more than a dozen televisions.
The Magic Tree has no cover charge, but will have a special on Pabst Blue Ribbon beer – a staple at The Royal Oaks – on Sunday night.
“We’ll also keep the kitchen open late,” said Reda, who added the Magic Tree also will have a viewing party Oct. 25 when The Federal is featured on “Bar Rescue.”