In my most favorite Bar Rescue episode ever, Jon confronts the shocking state of owner Domenic Centofanti’s Irish pub, Downey’s in Philadelphia. Doing double takes and barking “Oh my fucking God!” Jon is disgusted by the filth – from fruit flies and dead mice to a bucket of dirty pans in even dirtier dish water sitting on the floor near the French fries– Jon doesn’t allow excuses and tells Domenic “I am either going to take those customers and bring them back here and show them this shit hole that is your kitchen or I am going to close this place down.”

Then Jon says he has to leave to take a shower “because this place is the worst thing I’ve seen in my life.”

Domenic still refuses to take responsibility and defiantly spouts out to Jon as he’s almost out the door, “I can’t do everything on my own.” Jon hears him and does a 180, heading back to the kitchen asking, “What did you say?????!” in the same way my mother did when I was a kid and yelled something smart at her when I thought she was out of earshot but wasn’t.

Despite initial resistance from Domenic, Jon uncovers a deeper issue: Domenic’s profound grief over his brother’s death. Jon’s compassionate side visibly emerges in a touching scene where Domenic apologizes for crying and Jon comforts him and offers empathy and support. By the end of the meeting, Jon gives some wonderful life advice: “When people get wounded, they’re protected by the things around them and that’s what happened to Domenic. Now he needs the freedom and the confidence in himself to get out of that cocoon, walk out, and fight.” They share a heartfelt hug as Domenic breaks free from his seven-year episode of grief and begins to be the owner Jon knows he can be.

I invite you to consider and share your answers in the Comments: What do you think about Jon’s sensitivity toward Domenic’s grief?