Canyon Inn - Bar Rescue Update - Open or Closed?

In this Bar Rescue episode, Jon Taffer visits The Canyon Inn in Yorba Linda, California.

The Canyon Inn is owned by New Yorker and former minor league baseball player Pauly Ambrus.

He bought Canyon Inn in 2004.

General manager Johnny says that Pauly is a New York thug/teddy bear.

He also says that Pauly is the alpha male.

With Pauly as the new owner, The Canyon Inn sales steadily increased for the first five years.

Pauly says that in the beginning the bar was making around $30,000 a week.

As new competition opened up, Pauly refused to upgrade the bar or take advice from his general manager, Johnny.

This lead customers to leave in search of trendier hangouts.

Johnny says that Pauly is reluctant to run specials even with the competition around them.

Pauly is cheap, so his bar is rundown and he is losing $100,000 a year.

Only a small group of loyal and regular customers still come to the bar.

These customers often make newcomers uncomfortable, which furthers the problem at hand.

Pauly makes a call for Bar Rescue to visit Canyon Inn.

The city of Yorba Linda, California is one of the most affluent cities in the country.

The median household income is over $120,000.

In 2005, it was ranked one of the top 25 places to live in the United States.

Jon arrives in the SUV with his wife Nicole to stake out the Canyon Inn.

Jon pulls up some Yelp reviews, which mentions the regulars who make the newcomers uncomfortable.

Jon has Nicole do the recon tonight.

Canyon Inn is a 2,000 square-foot bar with two pool tables in the back.

These are often moved to make a dance floor.

There is a horseshoe bar in the front surrounded by dining tables.

Nicole heads into the bar.

Nicole says that her first impression of the crowd at the Canyon Inn was that this is an older, more settled-in crowd.

Nicole orders a Stella.

She sits with a group of people and orders a round of Jaeger bombs for them.

They are reusing disposable plastic cups.

She asks the bartender what kind of soups they have.

The bartender tells her to get something else besides the soups because she doesn’t think any of them are good.

There is a male customer who is all over Nicole at the bar.

He tells her to kiss him, she says, “No, that’s okay” and feels uncomfortable.

She says she would’ve punched the guy if she wasn’t doing recon for Jon.

Nicole leaves the bar.

Jon apologizes to Nicole for what happened in the bar.

Jon heads into the bar to talk to Pauly.

Jon asks why his bar looks the way it does on the outside.

Jon confronts Pauly for the way the customer treated his wife.

Jon says that this isn’t acceptable.

Pauly says that if he would’ve gotten a complaint then something would’ve been done about it.

Jon says that no women will want to come here if they can’t feel safe.

He tells him to close the bar so they can have a staff meeting.

Jon says that Pauly is one of the most difficult people he’s worked with.

Next, Jon gathers the staff for a meeting.

Jon says he might have to put in a whole new concept and change the name.

Pauly says that if Jon thinks he’s going to change the name, then he’s lost his mind.

They begin arguing.

Pauly says he is capable of being successful like Jon and that he can rescue bars as well.

The next morning Jon brings in his experts that will help them.

For the bar, Jon brings in expert bartender Michael Tipps.

For the kitchen, Jon brings in expert chef Eric Greenspan.

There is too much frozen food in the kitchen and the soup comes in cans.

Jon needs Pauly to accept that he let these things slide.

The experts regroup to discuss their next steps.

Jon pulls Johnny aside to figure out how to get through to Pauly.

Michael asks the bartenders to make him basic drinks to see how much training these bartenders need.

In the kitchen, Eric assesses the chef’s signature dishes.

Jon sits down with Pauly to discuss the future of this bar.

Johnny says that Pauly’s ego gets in the way of being successful.

Jon brings the staff out back to say goodbye to the soup.

He has them hit the cans with a bat.

The next morning, Pauly says that if Jon changes the name of the bar he is going to rip the sign down.

Pauly thinks they can be successful without changing the name.

Training begins with the new menu items.

They have proper pour spouts now to pour their drinks.

Chef Eric brings out the new food items for the staff to taste.

The staff loves the new items.

Jon tells them to leave the bar and he begins construction for the remodel.

The reopening is just 36 hours away.

The next evening, Jon meets with the staff to show them their new bar.

The Canyon Inn has been renamed and is now called Canyon Saloon Spirit and Steaks.

The staff loves the new name and look but Pauly does not like it at all.

Johnny hopes that Pauly will come around to it.

They head inside the bar to see all of the new changes.

Pauly says the inside of his bar is gorgeous and Johnny says that the bar is breathtaking.

Jon gave them brand new glassware, so now they don’t have to use cheap ones.

Jon installed an orange door music system.

Pauly says he is speechless and that he’s still trying to process everything.

Jon got them all new equipment for the kitchen as well.

The bar opens up for the first time since remodel.

Within minutes, the bar is filled.

On relaunch, customers love the new name, along with the new menu.

The new bar equipment is easy for the bartenders to use.

They are still having problems with the old customers.

Pauly takes the girls to the other side of the bar

He gives the problem customers their bill and tells them they have to leave.

Jon shakes Pauly’s hand and says that his work here is done.

What Happened Next at The Canyon Inn / Canyon Saloon?

Two months after the relaunch, Pauly changed the name of the bar.

The bar is now called Canyon Inn Sports and Grill.

Business is up, but not as much as Pauly had hoped.

Canyon Inn is open.

Reviews after the episode was filmed are mixed.

Some love the bar and praise the low prices and regular bands.

Other customers complain of problems with service.

There are many false reviews due to the show.

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Next episode - Angry Ham's Garage / Octane Bar and Grill

This post was last updated in February 2024.