In this Bar Rescue episode, Jon Taffer visits Gerri’s Sports Pub in Margate, Florida.
Gerri’s Sports Pub is owned by Jerry and Alina.
In 2023, Jerry and his wife Alina moved to Florida and bought the pub.
The first 2 years were a success, despite them not having any experience.
The inexperience caught up with him as the lack of an update or maintenance to the bar cost him customers.
Jerry wants to change nothing but they are losing about $2000 a month.
Jon arrives with expert mixologist Tassia Lacerda and expert chef Jennifer Murphy.
He fills them in on the bar ownership on how there was a previous Gerri who owned and named the bar
Jerry did not rename it or make any changes.
The exterior needs work.
Their kitchen is a closet, with a pizza oven in the bar area.
The whole space is yellow and aged, with nicknacks everywhere.
It is also a smoking bar and the staff are smoking behind the bar.
Jon calls in some spies he has used in a previous episode.
They quickly feel out of place as they are the only ones not smoking.
The spies order cocktails but they don't seem to enjoy it.
The bartender blames their taste buds as to why they don’t like the drinks.
There is no menu and only pizza on offer.
The customers are all drinking bottled beer and smoking.
This does not make them much money.
The pizza arrives for the spies and they are not served properly.
Jon goes into the bar with the plan to not only change the bar but also the mindset of the owner.
Jerry and Alina say their customers love the space as it is.
Jon tells them only 15% of the Florida population smokes and it is mostly men.
Jon shows him all he noticed around the bar and how dirty it is.
He points out that the smoking behind the bar is illegal.
Jerry and Alina listen to him, saying they never noticed and they want to change.
The staff smoking behind the bar are apologetic.
They clean during the night and the staff are gathered the next morning.
Jon introduces the experts and they give feedback on the deplorable state of the kitchen.
The bar was not being used because customers only went for bottled beer.
The experts take a look around the bar to pinpoint specific problems.
There is moldy pizza in the freezer.
The staff say they do not throw it out because their pay will be docked.
Jon is worried Jerry is lazy and has no drive left.
He will watch him as they try to upgrade the bar.
Jennifer trains the staff on making a pizza on a flatbread within 10 minutes.
Tassia trains the staff on making a simple cocktail properly.
It is soon time for the stress test and 10 balloons are put on the dartboard.
For every mistake that the staff make a balloon will be popped.
The bar is opened and customers are let in.
The bartenders made 6 drinks incorrectly and have to be dumped.
Jon only pops 3 balloons to give them more time to do better.
With a small oven, they can only make one pizza at a time so food service is slow.
More drinks are dumped and Jon only pops 2 balloons to be generous.
Tickets are lost and Jennifer spots the disorganization.
Orders come in both verbally and on paper which confuses the staff.
Jerry is also a source of confusion as he takes food to the wrong tables.
Drinks are coming out slowly and more balloons get popped.
Soon all the balloons popped with the disorganization.
The night is shut down and Jerry apologizes to the customers.
The next day, Tassia gives the staff more training on the basics and on making a beer cocktail.
Jon sits with Jerry and Alina and he lets them know all they need.
He will be getting to set up a good system to make it easier for Jerry to manage.
Jon meets with his team and their biggest challenge will be removing the smell from years of smoking.
After a few days, they are all gathered for the unveiling of the new bar.
The Bar has been renamed Jerzy’s Pub, which is Jerry’s Polish name.
Inside the bar has been cleaned, decluttered and updated with new furnishings.
The lighting and ambience give it a brand new feel.
The darts and pool table have been moved to the edges of the bar.
There is new lighting and new vinyl logos.
They have new plumbing with two new workstations.
There are Skytab stations and tablets, a new ice machine, a turbo chef oven and new glassware.
Jerry and Alina let the waiting customers in.
Tassia is nervous about the bartenders as they are slow.
Jerry is given the task of keeping track of everything.
Soon things pick up both in the kitchen and at the bar.
On relaunch, the staff get more confident.
The customers are served quickly and efficiently.
What Happened Next at Gerri’s Sports Pub?
Six weeks later, it is revealed sales have increased.
The bar is still smoke-free and the customers like it that way.
Jerry has been maintaining the new standards.
Gerri’s Sports Pub / Jerzy's Sports Pub is open.
Reviews are mostly positive.
There is praise for the drinks, staff and service.
In November 2025, a review appeared that suggests smoking is allowed in the bar again.
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Previous episode - VFW Post 1689
Next episode - Inland Tavern
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