Bar Rescue is still going strong in its fifth season on Spike. If you’ve never had a chance to see it, think of when Gordan Ramsay was fixing restaurants on Kitchen Nightmares only this is Jon Taffer fixing or “rescuing” bars. So who is Jon Taffer, the host of Bar Rescue? He is a bar consultant, television personality, founder and owner of his own media company, and author. But perhaps what he’s best known for is his strong personality and intimate knowledge of the bar business. Taffer has screamed at more than his fair share of bartenders and operators and it’s part of the reason the show is so successful. But here are five things you may not have known about him.
The Horse in the Bar
One of the craziest moments of Taffer’s career involved a horse in a bar, blacked-out drunk co-owners, and an incredulous Taffer. Here’s what he recalls. Think about this: Married couple. The bank is about to foreclose. They’re in debt, they’ve had to move out of their home. So this is over for them, they’re done. So I show up, and they’re UNBELIEVABLY drunk. And in the morning, they don’t even remember meeting me! And their lives are on the line!
His First Bar
Taffer’s first bar management job was at The Troubadour night club in West Hollywood in 1978. He was given full control of the bar in 1981 where staff theft were rife. He opened his first bar as owner in 1989. ni 2010, he was appointed as president of the Nightclub and Bar Media Group, a division of Questex Media Group, which is responsible for Nightclub & Bar Magazine as well as the annual Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade Show.
Other Projects
Taffer has been involved in numerous projects including:
- “inventing” the concept that became the NFL Sunday Ticket while serving a three-year term on the board of NFL Enterprises
- publishing his first book, Raise the Bar – October 2013
- developing an all-inclusive bar and nightclub management app, BarHQ, for bar operators – November 2014
- patenting his music management systems
He’s 6’2
Part of the reason he’s so imposing on the show and to everyone he speaks with is that Taffer is tall and fairly large. His size makes him that much more effective.
The Screwdriver
Jon picked the screwdriver as the one drink that everyone should know how to make.
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