(keep reading to learn what happened)
Season: 8 | View All Season 8 Episodes
Original Episode Air Date: June 6, 2021
The Bar's Original Name Was: Cork and Thorn
Cork and Thorn Address: 70 W Imperial Ave Las Vegas, NV 89102
Episode Recap
Cork and Thorn was a Las Vegas, Nevada bar that was featured on Season 8 of Bar Rescue.
Though the Cork and Thorn Bar Rescue episode aired in June 2021, the actual filming and visit from Jon Taffer took place a couple of months before that during Bar Rescue’s Covid-19 inspired focus on Las Vegas.
It was Season 8 Episode 4 and the episode name was “Every Rose Has Its Thorn”.
Cork and Thorn is a bar located in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The bar is right on the border of the Las Vegas arts district, so it’s not quite your stereotypical Vegas Strip experience.
Randi Garrett is the Cork and Thorn owner.
After being a florist for years, Randi bought the bar and combined the two businesses, which is another interesting aspect of the bar.
People can go to the bar and just hang out.
Or, they can learn how to make floral arrangements and such.
This duel use-case helped the bar grow very quickly.
However, just as the bar was garnering a following, the pandemic hit.
After being closed for months due to the pandemic, Cork and Thorn finally reopened, but with lots of restrictions.
Tony, Randi’s cousin, is the manager but has no hospitality experience.
This causes issues at the bar, especially with the added stress of the pandemic restrictions.
Neither Tony nor Randi know the financial information for the bar.
However, Randi is in severe debt and is in danger of closing, which is a big reason why the Cork and Thorn Bar Rescue episode exists.
Corey and Rick Harrison, stars of the TV show Pawn Stars, are also locals of the area.
They go into the bar as Jon’s spies – so if you’re looking for the Pawn Stars Bar Rescue episode, this is it.
The theme of the bar is confusing to Corey and Rick.
The spies order a Moscow Mule and a margarita when they get to the bar.
Allan cooks in the kitchen, and the bartenders are Tony, Aleks, and Savannah.
Neither of the spies’ drinks tastes good, so instead, they order a jack and coke and a pizza.
Jon Taffer sees the cooks in the kitchen serving pre-prepared meals.
There are also hazardous cleaning chemicals close to the food in the kitchen, which is a big health risk.
Jon Taffer comes in and meets with Randi. He gives her feedback on what he saw on the camera.
The employees stay to clean the bar, and Jon returns the next day.
Rob Floyd, expert mixologist, and Chef Jason Santos join Jon Taffer to help rescue Cork and Thorn.
Now, it’s time to start making improvements to the bar…
Rob trains the bartenders on a Moscow Mule with a twist.
Jason wants the staff to update their cheeseboard.
The stress test begins, and the customers are given comment cards.
Savannah starts slow and makes many mistakes.
The servers enter the orders all at the same time, which slams the kitchen.
The customers are leaving poor reviews on their comment cards.
The test is shut down.
Based on how the test went, the experts get to work on further training and improvements at the bar.
Rob trains the staff on how to make a cocktail using edible flowers, which connects to the bar’s floral theme.
Jason shows the team the Turbo Chef they were gifted and how to make a pizza.
Randi meets with the VP of MGM.
The VP talks to Randi about how to rebuild her bar after the pandemic.
Randi is very thankful for the help.
She appreciates someone helping her without wanting anything in return.
The staff gathered thirty-six hours later for the relaunch.
Jon decided to keep the name Cork and Thorn, as the bar’s issue was more to do with the Covid-19 pandemic than the branding itself.
The bar’s exterior is more colorful with bright walls.
It also got a bunch of new equipment – Standard Restaurant Supply gifted Cork and Thorn a salad station, new workstations, and an induction cooker.
There are also new POS machines from Harbor Touch and an ice machine.
During the relaunch, the staff stepped up and did better than during the stress test.
Randi is thankful to Jon and his crew for the hard work.
The customers are happy with the delicious food and drinks.
Randi is pleased with the changes as well and things seem to be looking up for Cork and Thorn’s future in Las Vegas.
So was the Bar Rescue Cork and Thorn restaurant visit a long-term success? Keep reading to learn what happened next and if it’s still open in 2024.
Cork and Thorn Update - What Happened Next?
Now that we’ve recapped the Cork and Thorn Bar Rescue visit, let’s talk about what happened to the bar after Jon Taffer (and Covid-19) left Las Vegas, NV.
First, let’s talk about some behind the scenes stuff.
In an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Randi indicated that she had a good time on the show:
It was crazy, they came in here and Jon does what he normally does, with the yelling, but overall it was a really good experience.
We don’t have that many problems, I don’t have employees getting drunk or anything like that, we’re not all fighting.
And he is really nice, off-camera.
Here are Randi’s thoughts on the biggest benefits of appearing on Bar Rescue:
The biggest benefits were the kitchen and a functioning bar.
He set me up for success with the kitchen, and the bar and POS (point of sale) system will help me keep everything in order.
I agree. In the hands of a capable manager, the free renovations that Bar Rescue gives should absolutely set a bar up for success because the bar is able to avoid taking on debt.
Is Cork and Thorn from Bar Rescue still open?
As of 2023, Cork and Thorn is still open and serving customers in Las Vegas, NV.
Reviews for the bar seem very good as it has a 4.5 star rating on Yelp and a 4.6 star rating on Google Reviews.
Here are some examples of reviews that were written after the Cork and Thorn Bar Rescue visit happened.
5 star Google Review from March 2022:
Went here for my sister’s birthday.
We had sooo much fun.
Loved the music.
The food truck outside was bomb.
My only complaint is the drink prices.
Kinda overpriced but it’s fine lol.
Great place.
I’m going back for my birthday in April
2 star Yelp review from Feb 2022:
We saw this on Bar Rescue and wanted to check it out.
The website shied that they had some food and you needed a reservation.
Our reservation was at 5:30-they open at 5:00.
They were still doing cleaning.
They no longer serve any food!
The drink we had was good but we were really disappointed.
It is a cute bar.
5 star Google review from Feb 2022:
This cute yet sophisticated venue in the Arts District was a pleasant surprise when I went to attend an event there.
The music was the perfect mix of old school R&B and new school hip-hop, and, the bartenders weren’t stingy or too strong with the alcohol in our drinks.
I would definitely recommend stopping by if you want a good experience “like” a spot on the strip but without the bustle.
5 star Yelp review from Oct 2021:
The BEST TIME!!
Great live band from Chicago, gorgeous, beautiful owner of the bar, Randi, was awesome!
Lovely staff. Get ready for a wild and crazy time.
5 star Yelp review from September 2022:
My favorite spot in VEGAS!!!
Great Vibes, Great Drinks, Great Music and Great People!!!
When I tell you I brags about this place!!
I tell everyone about it!
And if it’s left up to me I will wind up here every night of my Vegas trip!
I don’t have many pics because it’s such a good time when you get in there!!
Unfortunately I can’t find a recent picture of the Cork and Thorn Las Vegas location because Google Maps street view can’t get to the entrance.
However, I did check out the Cork and Thorn social media profiles…
Cork and Thorn also regularly posts events on its Facebook page.
They have regular live music from Alli Star and the Allikats, as well as other events.
Cork and Thorn also has a food truck named Harold’s Chicken come on every Friday, which some reviewers have complimented.
Here’s an example of a typical schedule at Cork and Thorn:
If you’re in Las Vegas and you want to check it out, you can learn more and see the Cork and Thorn menu at the official Cork and Thorn website.
Overall, it seems like the Corn and Thorn Bar Rescue episode was a real success.
However, this is really no surprise given that the bar’s biggest problem was Covid-19, rather than horrible management like a lot of other Bar Rescue bars.
If you want to see some other nearby Las Vegas Bar Rescue episodes, you can check out my updates for Nevada Brew Works, Ninja Karaoke, and City Bar / The Bradley (a little bit further away).
Thanks for reading!
More Information
https://www.yelp.com/biz/cork-and-thorn-las-vegas-2https://www.facebook.com/corkandthorn/
What did you think about the episode? I'd love it if you shared your thoughts on the episode in the comments below!
You can also click the buttons below to share this post!
And don't forget to check out all of the other Bar Rescue updates.
Last updated: 2023-02-12 06:25
So what happened with the kitchen that Jon set up and left?
Nothing wrong with a food truck, but Harold’s chicken doesn’t sound very artsy!
Is there any specific reason for getting rid of the kitchen? The food looked amazing and I was going to take my husband there for a nice night out but I’m not about to go with just a food truck. sorry.
The website indicates that they still have kitchen service, including the charcuterie boards and flatbread. The food truck may just be an additional promotion