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Patrons drink up raucous Oaks show
By GUY D’ASTOLFO
YOUNGSTOWN
It was a “Rescue” to remember.
The much-anticipated Royal Oaks episode of “Bar Rescue” aired Sunday night, and it has to rank among the most raucous in the Spike TV show’s history.
A lively crowd of friends and family packed the East Side bar to watch the premiere, raising a rowdy cheer for every off-color remark and at every showing of the bar’s once, shall we say quirky, decor.
A crew from “Bar Rescue” visited the Oaks – owned by brothers Louie and John Kennedy – in August. The episode more than lived up to its hype.
One patron suggested that a spinoff TV show could come from it.
The episode followed the “Bar Rescue” format. Jon Taffer, the show’s star, took in a night when the bar was on its worst behavior. Louie mooned the camera. Later, a well-oiled John pounded his fist on the bar as Taffer berated him, and shouted, “This is Youngstown. You work hard and you play hard.”
As could be expected, “Bar Rescue” couched the episode in the well-worn, but true, Youngstown synopsis: a city of hard-working people who have been bravely maintaining in the aftermath of the steel industry collapse.
Taffer set up the conflict. Louie was the irresponsible one whose obnoxious behavior was driving away customers. John was the family man who needed to turn the money-losing bar around before it is forced to close. The bar, said Taffer, was losing $5,000 a month and would go belly up within a year if nothing changed. John, he said, was in debt to the tune of $100,000.
He got the brothers, and their staff, on the same page. Taffer’s physical makeover further shored up the money drain. He not only restored the bar’s 1930s charm, including the neon sign that hangs above the entrance; he also added a new ice machine, beer cooling system, meat smoker, and computerized sales system.
“I didn’t have the money to do all that,” said John.
Moments before the show aired, Louie was jittery with anticipation, and fearful over how he was going to be portrayed. “It’s an awkward situation at best,” he said, adding, “Taffer told me that I look like I should be in a prison. He said if I were, that would be best for this bar. He is exactly the same in real life as he is on television.”
But it made for good television, and the crowd approved – despite a groan over the “Rescue” drink specialist’s comment that Youngstown is on the Canadian border.
The Royal Oaks has seen a nice boost in business – especially on the restaurant side – since “Bar Rescue” visited.
Louie said he expects another wave will follow the airing of Sunday’s episode.
John Kennedy was pleased with the overall experience. “I would do it again in a heartbeat,” he said.
“There have been more new faces in here in the last two months than there were in the previous 13 years.”
John said “Bar Rescue” has raised the Oaks’ profile outside the area as well. “I’ve been getting calls from my friends in the bar business from all across the nation,” he said.
What about the decision to restore the bar to its history?
“Taffer got it right,” said John. “He got the vibe of Youngstown. He knows what he is doing. He knows about our city’s history.”
Chris Rutushin, a patron of the Oaks, agreed. “When I first came in, I felt like I walked back in time,” he said.
Mike Kish, another patron, was impressed with Sunday’s show. “This is the best episode ever,” he said.
Next Sunday, “Bar Rescue” will air its episode on The Federal in downtown Youngstown, which was also shot in August. The show airs at 10 p.m.