Robusto Bar Rescue Update (Havana Mix Cigar) – Still Open in 2024?

Is Robusto By Havana Mix still open today?

Status: >> OPEN <<
(keep reading to learn what happened)

Season: 6 | View All Season 6 Episodes
Original Episode Air Date: March 18, 2018
The Bar's Original Name Was: Havana Mix Cigar
Robusto By Havana Mix Address: 250 Peabody Pl Memphis, TN 38103

Robusto Bar Rescue Update (Havana Mix Cigar)

Episode Recap

Havana Mix Cigar Emporium, later renamed to Robusto By Havana Mix, was a Memphis, Tennessee bar that was featured on Season 6 of Bar Rescue.

Though the Robusto Bar Rescue episode aired in March 2018, the actual filming and visit from Jon Taffer took place before that in late 2017.

It was Season 6 Episode 2 and the episode name was “Close, But No Cigar”.

Havana Mix Cigar is a cigar bar located in Memphis, TN.

Robb Hunter opened Havana Mix Cigar in 2012 as a cigar shop.

Havana Mix owner

Customers wanted a cigar bar, and Robb started serving liquor in 2014.

Rhobb Jr, Robb’s son (with a slightly different spelling, as far as I can tell), came into help and had to leave his graduate school program. He is not interested in working at the bar. 

The bar is not the main attraction of Havana Mix Cigar and gets neglected.

They are lacking in equipment and ingredients.

The bar is in mounting debt, and Robb and his son have poor communication. 

Jon asks his experts to find 18 locals to enter the bar to test the service.

Robb meets with Jon and says he thinks his son is lazy.

The hidden camera footage shows Rhobb Jr working alone.

Jacob Fourth, a cigar expert, and Chef Anthony Lamas go into the bar.

The first drink they order the bar does not have the ingredients for, and they do not know how to make their second drink, a manhattan. 

Doug, the bartender, helps make their whiskey drinks, and they taste terrible.

Personally, I would expect a cigar bar to have really good cocktails, so it’s a huge red flag if the bar can’t even make the classics.

When the spies order food, the bartender has to cook it.

As you’d expect, the food is not impressive.

Robb and Jon Taffer enter Havana Mix Cigar so Robb can talk with his son.

Jon tells Rhobb Jr he spent time selling an 11 dollar cigar when customers were waiting for drinks. 

Robb says he would allow his son to make more choices, but he is resistant to change.

Jon Taffer leaves the father and son to talk over their issues.

The next day at the meeting, the staff tells Jon there is no way for customers to know there is a bar.

There is also no Cuban food on the menu despite the bar’s name. 

At this point, the experts are introduced.

Jon Taffer wants Rhobb Jr to focus more on the bar than the store.

Jacob shows the bartenders how to make classic cocktails like a mojito and whiskey sour.

Chef Anthony leads the kitchen team on how to make sauces using limes.

Every time something goes awry during the stress test, a cigar must be placed into a jar. 

The bar staff tries to make more than one drink at a time, but they make mistakes.

The fryer isn’t working, and cook times are close to twenty minutes.

The kitchen eventually needs to be shut down.

Andrea is hired as a cook and is trained on bite-sized food.

Robb and Rhobb Jr reconnect and have an emotional conversation that ends with a hug. 

Havana Mix son

As part of the changes, the bar is renamed to Robusto by Havana Mix.

The inside is made with lots of leather furniture and warm lighting.

They are gifted ice machines, POS systems, and a lifetime subscription to TVT training.

During the relaunch, customers are happy to have cocktails.

The kitchen is making food fast and tasty. The owners hug Jon. 

So was the Havana Mix Cigar Bar Rescue visit a success? Let’s talk about what happened after the cameras stopped rolling! That includes whether it’s still open in 2024.

Robusto By Havana Mix Update - What Happened Next?

Now that we’ve recapped the Robusto Bar Rescue visit, let’s talk about what happened after Jon Taffer and his crew left Havana Mix Cigar and Memphis TN.

At the normal six week check-in with the Bar Rescue producers, we learn that sales at Robusto by Havana Mix are up by a quarter, which is a great way to start things off.

Rhobb Jr is now the manager at the business and getting more control.

Is Robusto from Bar Rescue still open?

As of 2023, Robusto by Havana Mix is still open and serving customers in Memphis, TN.

The bar is active on Facebook, regularly posting about events and specials.

They seem to have tons of live music – it really seems like a cool place to hang out.

Grab a cigar and a cocktail and watch some music? That’s my kind of place…

Reviews for the bar seem very good, as it has an impressive 4.5 star rating on the Robusto Yelp page.

This is one of the highest Yelp ratings that I’ve seen for any bar from Bar Rescue, so it seems that Robb and his crew are doing a great job at the bar.

Here’s a sampling of a few Havana Mix reviews that were written after the visit from Jon Taffer…

5 star Yelp review from August 2021:

On a recent trip to Memphis I visited Robusto and was very impressed.

The humidor was nice with a good variety at fair prices.

What was remarkable was the staff.

They could not have been more welcoming and accommodating.

I had planned on spending time at some of the other lounges but after visiting this one I went there everyday I was in town.

The live music on the weekends was really good too.

The place was packed every evening I was there but I never had to wait for a drink.

They also pay very close attention to cleanliness.

All the ashtrays, tables and chairs were constantly cleaned.

Everyone is welcome and treated with respect.

There is nothing negative to say, there just isn’t.

And they’re just a short walk from Beale Street which makes them a perfect location to start and end your evenings out.

Cigar lounges are typically pretty nice, but these folks raised the bar.

I hope they have continued success and growth.

4 star Yelp review from May 2018:

I came across this place all from this decently handsome guy making me watch the show bar rescue.

Since I’m a Memphis I had to come check it out and also loved the story behind this place.

My dad’s a huge cigar connoisseur and would love this place.

Atmosphere is for sure a 5, great lounge to have a drink, smoke a cigar, and listen to some live sax music.

Would suggest a more broad menu, the wings were decent but kinda let down considering they weren’t the cuban wings from the show.

Overall I give this place a 4 star review which is more than I give the decently handsome guy who made me watch the show in the first place.

3 star Yelp review from September 2022:

Very small cigar selection for cigars.

GREAT lounge and drinks are well priced.

If I’m in the area I go by but don’t go out of my way to get cigars there

If you’re in the Memphis area and you want to check it out, you can learn more at the official Robusto by Havana Mix website.

And then here’s what the Havana Mix Memphis TN location looks like as of the most recent Google Maps street view update:

What happened to the Robusto by Havana Mix owners?

As of 2022, Rhobb Hunter Jr. is listed as the Head of Operations at Robusto by Havana Mix on his LinkedIn page.

Robb Sr. also just generally seems to be doing really well in business.

He has a partnership with NBA player Dominique Wilkins (though there doesn’t seem to be a lot of activity here since 2017, before the episode aired on TV).

He also has some other cigar-related businesses, with Burning Desire Cigars in Lakeland, TN and Cigar Haven in Southhaven, Mississippi.

Overall, this one seems like a very successful Bar Rescue episode. Congrats to Robb and Jon Taffer!

If you want to see some other nearby Bar Rescue Tennessee episodes, you can check out my updates for The Iron Horse / Joe’s Thirsty Lizard in Horn Lake MS (right over the border), The Legacy / Game Time Sports Grille in Arlington, and The Dickson / Wanted Saloon in Dickson.

Thanks for reading!


More Information

https://www.yelp.com/biz/robusto-by-havana-mix-memphis
https://www.facebook.com/havanamix1/


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And don't forget to check out all of the other Bar Rescue updates.

Last updated: 2023-02-12 06:20

11 thoughts on “Robusto Bar Rescue Update (Havana Mix Cigar) – Still Open in 2024?”

All comments are the sole opinion of the commenter and are not endorsed by RealityTVUpdates.

    • We watch a lot of Bar Rescue, this is one of my favorite episodes. I am so happy to see that Robusto is still up and running and doing so well. If I am ever in Tennessee I would love to pop in and spend some time there!

      Reply
  1. I think I have seen every episode of Bar Rescue and have visited three rescues. This was by far my favorite episode and I can not wait to visit Robusto!

    Reply
  2. Our favorite bar rescue episode ever. The bond between father and son was so heartwarming.

    Can’t wait to visit when I’m in Memphis.

    Reply
  3. Taffers better at hamfisted cliches, but I gotta give credit where due. Most profound line ever uttered on BR. “You’re good at what you love(cigars) , but you aren’t disciplined enough to learn what you don’t love.”

    Reply
  4. I LOVED this bar rescue! I’m so glad the bar is a success and I know it’s because of the positive energetic attitudes of the staff and Robbs. Finally owners who accept responsibility and don’t get mad at Jon and appreciate his help. The father and son story was a sweet tear jerker with blessed ending. I hope to go there someday.

    Reply
  5. I am thrilled to know Robusto (formerly Havana Mix Cigar) remains opened and doing well. The energy was great and the commitment says success. I would like to stop in if I can get down your way. The best for continued success.

    Reply
  6. First comment ever on Bar Rescue.

    You know, as soon as the son said the bar wasn’t his first option, I kind of automatically knew what was going on (based on personal experiences). After seeing how the father was speaking to him I became so annoyed and then angry after watching him talk about his son to Jon to put the blame on him than his own self as the owner.

    At first I was hoping the bar would shut down then I had to put my feelings to the side and say I hope it’s open to show that they’ve grown from the experience.

    Reply

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