City Bistro Before Bar Rescue
In 2012, successful restaurant manager Tiffany Hutchinson decided to open her own business, and City Bistro was soon opened. She wanted to be her own boss, and she had worked at a fine dining restaurant for 18 years. She thought she would be able to handle running a bar, and after dropping every bit of money she had saved into it, she was able to get it open. In its first year, City Bistro experienced moderate success.
The best month that they ever had was $14,000, which paid the bills and overhead, but they were not yet making a profit. In order to grow her customer base, Tiffany brought in bartenders known for their success in the St. Louis bar scene. Someone had approached her and said that they had their own little ways to bring in their own customers, and it totally took her by surprise whenever she saw them bartending. They would resort to anything to make money.
The bartenders insist that they have followers wherever they go who will support them, and occasionally see a boob. The bartenders have started calling City Bistro “Titty Bistro.” The first couple months, business was very good, so Tiffany would turn a blind eye and ignore the problem.
However, as she continued to look the other way, her staff became more out of control. It became the norm because it was helping pay the bills, but the plan backfired when their unprofessional behavior drove many of the desired customers away. The females, couples, and younger crowd started to dwindle out. Now, business is horrible – if the bartenders are walking around half-naked, then only men who want to see things are come.
Tiffany now feels trapped – if she gets rid of all the bartenders, she would not have any customers. She is $300,000 in debt and City Bistro is only 2 months away from being a total bust. It would absolutely crush her if she had to close the doors since she has two daughters, and Tiffany feels like she would be a failure if she had no means of taking care of her kids. Worried her business could be gone in a flash, Tiffany has agreed to call in to Jon Taffer and Bar Rescue for help.
City Bistro on Bar Rescue
In St. Louis, Missouri, Jon is approaching his destination with two experts in the car. St. Louis is actually the beer capital of America, and before they go to City Bistro, Jon drives around and gives them the tour. The Budweiser brewery is only a few blocks away, and there are neighborhood bars all over. The median household income is about $34,000, so the people drinking here are more blue collar. Veteran bartender Shawn Ford and Chef Ryan Scott agree, saying that a blue collar neighborhood needs more bang for their buck – a lot of food for cheap, but tasty food.
The City Bistro building sits conspicuous on the street, and all three men in the car call it a horrible name. Jon then explains that the most popular beers in St. Louis are Budweiser and Bud Lite, which are both front and center. Obviously they have the brands that appeal to the city. Jon then sends in his two spies, Angela and Andrew. Angela works for a beer distributor, so she knows what beers sell and what don’t, as well as if it is poured properly. The two spies enter the 4,800 square foot space, grossing $7 per square foot in sales, $143 less than the industry’s break-even point. Inside the bar, the bartenders are already rowdy and leading a chant/cheer as customers down shots. Sure enough, bare breasts are flashed soon after the two enter, and Angela and Andrew are intrigued yet disappointed. Shawn Ford says that it looks more like a strip club than anything else.
Tiffany sits off to the side, looking even more disappointed. She is losing $6,000 a month and has her $300,000 colossal debt. If they can’t turn the bar around, Tiffany is gone in no time. Bartender Angie greets Angela and Andrew at the bar, and they are told that there is no Bud Light on draft. They then order “whatever you actually got.” The signs outside show that they have the product, but clearly the story is different inside. Even worse, when they go to order food, Angie says that they do not have a kitchen. Several other patrons try to order food, but nobody is able to.
Angela and Andrew exit the bar, and Angela says that she feels totally violated by all the nudity – not something she expected to see on a Tuesday. Tiffany admits that she does not know what to do as the other female bartenders begin a strip tease for the customers, and Jon himself is unsure how he would deal with it. None of the bartenders have charged anyone for a drink tonight. Bartender Tammy appears belligerently drunk from the floor. The pizzas have finally arrived, and Chef Ryan steps up.
The free pizza comes in and both the bartenders and patrons appear thrilled. They actually applaud for something as simple as a slice of a pizza. All 15 pizzas are given out in no time. Jon then explains that the people would gladly pay $3 a slice, and Shawn says that they would for sure drink another beer. The straw finally breaks the camel’s back when bartender Angie grabs a customer’s head and pushes it up against her breasts, then actually begins to make out with another bartender. Jon storms inside, upset by the outrageously disgusting show.
City Bistro Now in 2024 – The After ‘Bar Rescue’ Update
The changes made during their Bar Rescue episode were initially met with a sense of optimism. The bar’s interior was redesigned to give it a more modern and inviting look and the menu was overhauled to include new food and drink options that would appeal to a broader customer base.
Not only that but the staff also received extensive training to enhance their customer service skills. These modifications were aimed at rebranding City Bistro and attracting new clientele while retaining the old ones.
Despite their efforts, however, they faced mixed results. While some of the changes were well received, others were met with criticism. The revamped menu, for example, was praised for its variety and quality, but the increased prices accompanying the new offerings were less popular among regular customers. And despite the new interior design, some patrons missed the old ambiance that gave City Bistro its unique charm.
That’s not all, City Bistro also faced challenges concerning their online reputation. Negative reviews on platforms like Yelp and Facebook had a detrimental effect on their business. Some reviewers cited poor customer service and dissatisfaction with the new menu as reasons for their low ratings.
Over the next few years, City Bistro continued to face financial challenges. Despite a brief surge in business following their episode’s airing, they struggled to maintain steady patronage and closed its doors permanently in 2016. As of 2024, there is a new sports bar at their old St. Louis location.
While Bar Rescue’s intervention brought about significant changes for City Bistro, it was not enough to ensure its long-term success. The mixed reception to the changes implemented, coupled with ongoing financial struggles, ultimately led to the establishment’s closure.
This case serves as a reminder that while expert intervention can bring about immediate improvements, long-term success is contingent on various factors, including market dynamics, customer preferences, and effective management.
