In this Restaurant Impossible episode, Robert Irvine visits Cray Eatery and Drinkery in Columbus, Ohio.
Cray Eatery and Drinkery is owned by Crystal Park.
Robert is at a fitness convention in his booth promoting his protein bars when he gets the call.
The show has been contacted by Crystals friend Jamie.
The restaurant is just days away from closing.
The owner has a lot going on in her life, with more than just the restaurant.
She thinks that her friend is a different person and not the leader they need her to be.
The producer calls Crystal and asks her come to the convention.
Robert asks Crystal how he can make it better.
She says that she’s had little positive in her life and it’s great to see Robert.
Crystal bought the restaurant two years ago after previous working as a bartender.
She invested $400,000 into the restaurant.
Crystal thinks she is failing because she has hired bad people.
She was engaged but the stress of the restaurant ruined the relationship.
Robert says he wants to bring people into the restaurant to test the service.
Crystal says she has very little staff and no food prepped for a service.
She makes calls to the workers she does have but she says she’s not sure if any of them will come in.
Walking in the door of the restaurant, Robert points out the cigarette butts around the door.
There’s cheap furniture and the place doesn’t look inviting as it is dirty.
Crystal sponsors a local softball team so there are trophies as part of the decor.
Crystal has infused liquors but they look bad and need to be cleaned.
Robert says it looks like Frankenstein’s castle.
Robert brings in his design team of Cheryl and Tom to discuss plans for the restaurant.
He tells them he wants the remodel to focus on the bar.
Robert wants to see a service and a few of Crystal’s friends will be helping out.
The customers say that they haven’t heard anything about this restaurant.
The food is overpriced, the decor needs improving and the service isn’t that great.
The waffle iron hasn’t been cleaned in what looks like forever.
Crystal says that the bar gets cleaned every night.
Robert points out the bacteria under the bar, which hasn’t been cleaned in a long time.
Robert orders a few things from the menu to try.
The bartender admits that she tries to keep the customers away from ordering the infused liquors.
Robert gets a few of them to try them out and thinks they are gross.
Robert gets the duck slider and chicken and waffles that he ordered.
He says the chicken and waffle is out.
Robert won’t even try it because of the state of the waffle maker.
He doesn’t like the duck slider.
Robert has the construction team begin taking everything out of the restaurant.
Cheryl is pouring out the infused liquors and says it hasn’t been changed in ages.
Crystal says that she feels like she’s been beat up, picked up, and beat up again.
However, she feels like this will be a positive experience overall.
They begin tearing down parts of the restaurant.
Cheryl wants to keep the industrial feel and plans to make cute shelves for the liquor bottles.
Robert meets with the staff.
The staff says she micromanages them but she doesn’t manage well at all.
Robert tells her that if she can’t manage her friends then they shouldn’t be working there.
Robert gives Crystal some homework: he wants her to write down everything she needs to let go of.
Crystal thinks she can make this better but it’ll take a lot of work.
The next morning, Robert meets with Crystal at a softball field to let out her frustrations and let go of the past.
Crystal tells Robert the things she needs to let go of.
She admits that she needs to let go of the heartbreak and the failure of the restaurant.
Robert wrote these things on the softballs.
Robert has brought in people who support her.
They pitch the ball to her and she hits it, symbolizing that she let those things go.
Robert says he believes in her and knows she can change.
Robert checks in with the design team.
They have put gold leaf on the base of the bar and Robert is upset about it.
Robert shows Crystal and the cook better ways to make the food items he tried earlier.
Crystal goes around the neighborhood and gives out free samples.
Robert meets with Crystal and the staff and shows them a better way to make the infused liquor.
He shows them a cocktail infused with cereal and almond milk.
The design team begins making the finishing touches on the restaurant.
They’re installing light fixtures and are putting decorative pieces up.
Crystal says that before Robert got here, she was spending every morning wondering if she should close the doors that day.
Jaime says she can already see a change in Crystal’s attitude.
Crystal seems more excited and motivated.
She has the same smile that she had when she first opened this place.
Jaime says she can’t wait to get inside and see all of the changes.
Robert says that today there is a whole new vibe.
Robert has changed the name to Factory on 4th.
Robert tells Jaime and Crystal to close their eyes while he guides them inside the restaurant.
He tells them to open their eyes and they are impressed.
Crystal asks how this even happened in so little time.
Crystal invites the customers in for the grand reopening.
On relaunch, the customers are very excited to be there.
They think this is exactly what they needed in this neighborhood.
The infusions are more appealing and they will sell better now.
The chicken and waffles is much better.
One customer says that they must’ve tossed the old waffle iron.
The customers seem really satisfied with the food and the way the restaurant looks now.
They finish by saying that Crystal will not be closing in a few days.
What Happened Next at Cray Eatery and Drinkery / Factory on 4th?
Cray Eatery and Drinkery / Factory on 4th closed in August 2016.
They had struggled to pay rent prior to closure and the business was sold.
Reviews prior to closure were mixed, mostly average or poor with few positive reviews.
Cray Eatery and Drinkery / Factory on 4th was Restaurant Impossible season 13 episode 7 and aired on 27th April 2016.
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