In my most favorite episode of Bar Rescue ever, Jon clashes with Pauly Ambrus, owner of the Canyon Inn Sports Bar and Grill in Yorba Linda, California, over the issue of renaming the establishment. Pauly is a New Yorker like Jon and quickly sets the tone for their interactions, firmly stating to the camera and foreshadowing the episode’s confrontations with “It’s all gonna be my way.”

Pauly is a former minor league baseball player and, as his GM and best friend Johnny calls him, “an alpha male.” The primary dispute revolves around the bar’s name, but it is also compounded by Pauly’s erratic temperament and his penchant for challenging Jon on multiple fronts. The rhythmic cadence and sharp, emphatic delivery characteristic of New York accents bring a lively dynamism to their exchanges, making each retort and rejoinder more impactful and captivating. At one point, Pauly tells Jon, “Let’s see what you got, Rocky,” and we know it’s going down. It does, too, and several years later, this episode shows up on Jon’s list of his top 10 angriest moments.

This episode is also the first one where Jon directly observes a recurring narrative trajectory in which initially resistant owners evolve to appreciate his tough-love interventions, culminating in a newfound respect and, dare I say, love for one another. This transformation resonates with fans, who humorously recall the journey from contention to friendship with lines like, “We started off on the wrong foot, didn’t we, buddy? But now we’re friends.” While this episodic trajectory is born here, it remains strong throughout all the seasons, reflecting the emotional arc of Jon’s interventions and possibly serving as the main plot line of the entire series.

A persistent issue at the Canyon Inn is the unwelcomed behavior of a group of older male regulars who deter younger female patrons with their advances. This problem is particularly incongruous with the bar’s location in an area popular with a younger, predominantly female demographic, a discrepancy highlighted by negative Yelp reviews and in need of Jon’s remediation. The severity of the situation is vividly demonstrated during a reconnaissance mission by Jon’s wife, Nicole, who experiences firsthand the aggressive behavior of these regulars. One patron notably invades her personal space, running his hands through her hair and demanding a kiss. Fortunately, this incident occurs in an earlier season before Jon began monitoring undercover operations live from his SUV and then intervening on his wife’s behalf (like in “S3E11 Don’t Mess with Taffer’s Wife” IYKYK). Nicole manages the situation similarly to how I’ve witnessed other women handle it, having to forcefully say no and eventually leave the bar to avoid further harassment.

Jon faces significant challenges in making Pauly recognize the gravity of the situation with his regulars. Pauly’s denial is rooted in the absence of direct complaints from female clientele, leading him to underestimate the problem. Jon argues that victims of harassment in bars often choose to leave silently rather than confront the issue, a perspective that Pauly initially resists. This highlights a critical misunderstanding of customer behavior and the silent ways in which a business can lose patrons due to unresolved issues. Jon is very sensitive to the reactions of customers and schools Pauly on his responsibilities to all his patrons, especially the women, in regard to creating a safe and enjoyable environment.

Pauly asserts that he has deep knowledge of the bar business and suggests that Jon’s assistance isn’t even necessary while simultaneously admitting to financial struggles and not having received a paycheck in six months. During several heated exchanges with Jon, Pauly’s demeanor is so combative and intense that it takes a moment to realize he has actually shifted from opposition to agreement. When Jon inquires about Pauly’s continued hostility, Pauly retorts, “Because I think you’re all talk with a big fucking pocket.” Jon repeatedly points to Pauly’s financial difficulties to try to keep his mind open to change, but it is unclear if his tactics are working, especially regarding a name change for the establishment.

Pauly’s confrontational approach is so extreme that Jon later confides to the camera that Pauly is one of the most challenging individuals he has encountered, a sentiment Jon has also echoed in his podcasts. Johnny, the General Manager of the Canyon Inn and Pauly’s close friend, also acknowledges Pauly’s difficult nature in a private conversation with Jon, noting that Pauly’s receptiveness to ideas is heavily dependent on his mood, with better chances of cooperation on his good days.

Jon often mentions in the show, in podcast interviews, and in his books how he strives to penetrate the superficial layers of an owner’s persona, aiming to discover the root causes of problems rather than just the superficial excuses often presented as reasons for failure. This episode showcases Jon in action during some complex interactions between Jon and Pauly. In one argument about the bar, Pauly boasts that he has the ability to turn around a failing bar, so Jon challenges him about why he hasn’t applied this ability to his own establishment. Pauly angrily offers a perplexing response: “I told you I’m down 30% and I think I know everything so, obviously, I don’t know everything, so now I’ve got a guy here who’s telling me he does know everything. Put it where your mouth is. Do you want a bar rescue or a bar startup from scratch?” This interaction highlights Pauly’s contradictory and confusing nature, as he simultaneously acknowledges his lack of expertise and resists Jon’s proposed solutions. Jon succinctly captures the essence of their exchanges with the remark, “This is not a bar rescue, it’s a bar fight,” underscoring the adversarial dynamic that defines their relationship, even when Pauly is agreeing with him.

Jon expresses respect for Pauly’s passion, pledging to exhaust all efforts to secure his success. He assures Pauly, “I’ll give you my heart and soul for the next five days” to turn the Canyon Inn around. Pauly’s receptiveness to Jon’s guidance fluctuates, but Jon is relentless in his attempts to win him over. Employing various strategies, Jon endeavors to win Pauly over, including engaging in a baseball activity to foster camaraderie, sharing a meal and talking heart-to-heart with him, and offering advice against being “Dime smart, dollar foolish”—a caution against penny-pinching at the expense of significant investments. A notable moment in this episode is Jon’s criticism of Pauly’s “Save the foam” practice. Pauly has instructed his bartenders to collect and reuse beer foam, a practice Jon criticizes for its foolishly detrimental impact on the quality of the beer drinking experience for the customers and therefore detrimental impact on the business as a whole.

The contentious topic of renaming the establishment resurfaces throughout this episode, echoing a theme from previous episodes. On the morning of the third day during the removal of the existing signage, Pauly arrives and challenges Jon, saying, “I’m just wondering if we got past that name change issue?” Jon responds with unwavering calmness, stating, “I got past it. I’m changing it.” His demeanor is unmistakably resolute, signaling to even the most casual observer the futility of attempting to sway his decision at this juncture. Pauly concedes that “inn” does remind people of a hotel, but later in a candid moment with the camera, Pauly reveals his deep emotional connection to the original name, admitting that, for him, altering it symbolizes personal failure, something we know Pauly cannot admit well from the entirety of his actions in this episode and his comments about how he can play ball better than the 18 year olds in his recreation league.

Ultimately, Jon opts for “Canyon Saloon” as the new name, discarding “Inn” due to its negative connotations—either implying a lodging facility or a locale known for the mistreatment of women by regular patrons. While the staff and patrons approve of the rebranding, Pauly’s acceptance is lukewarm, his skepticism manifesting in a sarcastic display as he pretends to remember the new name by reading it from his shirt during the relaunch. Despite his reservations about the name change, Pauly commits to giving it a chance for two weeks. The comprehensive interior enhancements Jon implements leave Pauly at a rare loss for words, his admiration for the transformation evident. He acknowledges Jon’s impact, stating, “Jon has my attention…I respect him…he’s the man…and he did a fantastic job.” Meanwhile Jon reflects on his journey with Pauly from conflict to camaraderie, encapsulating their own relationship transformation with the enduring line, “You and I started off screaming and yelling at each other. When I look in your eyes now, I know I’m looking in the eyes of a friend.”

I invite you to consider and share your answer in the Comments: What is your take on Jon’s New York accent?