Pepe’s ‘Bar Rescue’ makeover episode to air on TV Sunday

Despite Pepe’s Restaurant being temporarily closed because of COVID-19 restrictions, its bar will be getting national attention Sunday. Paramount TV’s popular Bar Rescue television series filmed an episode at the restaurant in February and it will finally air on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. on its network.

A look at the new signage at the bar end of the restaurant as well as a 5-minute preview of the episode on YouTube points to the focus the show’s producer, Jon Taffer, makes in his effort to remake the bar. Pepe’s owners Laura and Victor Demoreno are sworn to silence until the show is aired, but the signage shows a shift to a golf-themed decor.

The preview focused on Taffer being initially critical of Pepe’s owners running the business from their offices above the restaurant instead of being more hands-on.

The show airing Sunday, titled In the Rough, will describe the transformation and Laura and Victor’s reaction to Taffer’s suggestions and criticism. Exterior and interior signs show the rebranding of the bar to the new and unique name, Par Bar. The inside sign is made up of golf tees.

The interior also sports a new decor, including updated seating, pool tables and lighting.

Taffer has been producing Bar Rescue for seven seasons and over 200 episodes. He and his crew take five days to evaluate the bar and then help the bar make improvements and offer tips to get their bars running more efficiently.