Downtown LA Bar Hits Chopping Block Two Weeks After Bar Rescue Episode

Despite appearing on the popular Spike rehab show Bar Rescue only two weeks ago, it seems that downtown’s Los Angeles Brewing Company will be pouring its last (nonhouse-brewed) pint of beer (probably from a dirty tap line) soon, after first coming to life in 2011.

LA Weekly brings news of the failing downtown enterprise, which a well-paid neck in a sports coat named Jon Taffer absolutely lambasted in an episode that aired on March 22. Finding dirty tap lines, undercooked food, and incompetent restaurant management by an owner who also runs a commercial glazing company, Taffer got all veiny and went really wild. The result? Apparently the most expensive Bar Rescue makeover to date, complete with a self-contained computerized brewing system, a whole new tap setup and tableside self-pouring stations.

There was also a bit of a rebrand, taking the Los Angeles Brewing Company (which didn’t brew its own beer, but probably made a lot of people who do upset because they took a good name) down to just LA Brew Co. BBQ boss Kevin Bludso was even brought on to teach people how to fry up some wings, but it all seems largely for naught.

As the Weekly notes, an ABC license for the property has been suspended, and a downtown real estate broker has the business listed for $650,000. Needless to say, no one's answering the phone down there right now, either. After apparently putting $1 million into the business up front, that adds up to one seriously negative return.

But with any luck, ownership will manage to take some money and run, and downtown can use the space for something a bit more worthwhile. Meanwhile, those scoring at home will have to chalk this one up in Taffer’s loss column.