On the Bar Rescue episode ‘The Perks of Being a Wallpaper,’ Jon Taffer travels to Las Vegas for the Season 5 finale. He checks out Vegas’ classic dive bar, Champagne’s Cafe, that once had ties to the mob. In the 60s, the Rat Pack used to hang out there, in the 80s it was a mobster hangout. There are a few old wiseguys who still swing by including Frank Cullotta of The Hole-in-the-Wall Gang, who says, “It makes me comfortable coming in here.” Champagne’s Cafe brings back old memories for Frank. But the current owner Greg Sims, who bought Champagne’s in 2015 with a $150k loan from his mother, is far from being a wiseguy. Cullotta (and Taffer) think he’s too much of a nice guy.
[Champagne’s Cafe Installs Bitcoin ATM After ‘Bar Rescue’]
In addition to keeping the “gloomy” decor — including the dark red velvet wallpaper — Sims hasn’t provided a lot of training for the bartenders who say they get to do whatever they want. Champagne’s bartender Candy says: “Greg is definitely a pussy. He doesn’t have much of a backbone at all.” When Taffer sees what’s going on, when a bartender doesn’t show up for work and then returns the next day without any reprimand, Taffer fumes at the staff and Sims and calls Sims “an idiot on mommy’s money” in front of his staff. Bar Rescue airs Sundays at 9pm on SPIKE.
