Water’s Edge Bar Rescue Update (Edge of Town) – Still Open in 2024?

Episode Recap

Edge of Town, later renamed to Water’s Edge Island Bar, was a Blue Springs, Missouri bar that was featured on Season 6 of Bar Rescue.

Though the Water’s Edge Bar Rescue episode aired in September 2019, the actual filming and visit from Jon Taffer took place a few months earlier.

It was Season 6 Episode 44 and the episode name was “So We Meet Again, Mr. Taffer”.

Edge of Town is in Blue Springs, MO.

The Edge of Town owners are Mark Wilson and Ozzie, his fiance.

You may remember Mark Wilson from the Longshots Sports Bar episode, as he was also the owner of that bar.

That makes this the second time that Jon Taffer has visited one of Mark’s bars – a very nice position to be in!

This is also why the episode name is “So We Meet Again, Mr. Taffer”.

If you don’t remember that one – Jon Taffer rescued Longshots Sports Bar in 2013 and renamed it to Badlands Country Nightclub.

Unfortunately, Badlands Country Nightclub closed shortly after filming the episode, so we hope Jon Taffer has better luck in this episode.

One of the reasons that Longshots/Badlands closed is so that Mark could focus on his other bars, such as Edge of Town (he also has some other ones – more on that later).

Enough backstory – let’s get to talking about Edge of Town.

The bar was initially successful, but they were forced to shut down after the landlord wouldn’t renew the lease.

The owner, Mark Wilson, opened a new club called Vertigo and implemented everything Jon Taffer taught him.

While Vertigo is doing well, those principles aren’t working at Edge of Town.

While working at Vertigo, Mark met his fiancé Ozzie.

Mark handed Edge of Town to Ozzie so she could run it.

The bar is old and worn out, and the staff is uncaring.

Bartender Amy Koffsky and Chef Vic Vega join Jon Taffer to assist with saving Edge of Town.

The experts and Jon agree that the outside of the bar looks boring.

Jon wants to see if Mark uses anything he learned from his previous Bar Rescue experience at this bar. 

The hidden camera footage shows Frank, the cook, Caitlin, and Mona, who are bartenders, and Mi’Kayla and Will, the bartenders.

Local news correspondent Gina and soccer player Kelyn spy on Edge of Town for Jon Taffer and the experts.

The pair ordered a mai tai and a margarita.

The drinks are served warm, without ice, and with no garnish.

On the food side, the spies also order chicken wings and potato tots. 

In the kitchen, Frank undercooks bacon and serves it, which leads to one of Jon Taffer’s classic “You’re going to make people sick” rants.

Jon Taffer is disappointed in how Ozzie is managing the bar and goes to confront her and makes her call Mark at Vertigo.

Ozzie and Frank begin to clean the kitchen as they wait.

Mark arrives, and Jon Taffer admonishes him for leaving Ozzie alone to manage the bar since she doesn’t have prior experience in running a bar.

A bartender takes a shot, and Mark tries to get her to admit to it, but she doesn’t. 

The next day, Jon Taffer meets with the staff.

He reminds them that the bar isn’t just at stake but Ozzie and Mark’s dream.

Jon also reminds the owners that their mistakes were poor choices.

Much alcohol is missing, and it hasn’t been rung in or paid.

The footage is then shown of the staff drinking liquor while working.

Ozzie and Mark need to treat their staff like staff and not family. 

The food and beverage experts are introduced in order to prep for the stress test.

The bartenders learn how to make an old-fashioned.

The kitchen is taught to make sautéed chicken.

Ozzie will work at the bar for the stress test, while Mark will work in the kitchen.

The bartenders can’t keep up, and they have to dump many drinks.

Wait times are starting to go over ten minutes in the kitchen. 

Eventually, the stress test get shut down.

The following day, Amy shows the staff how to make simple tropical cocktails.

Frank is taught how to make sauces with pineapple.

While the staff are being trained by the experts, Jon Taffer and his crew have been hard at work renovating the bar.

As part of the changes, Jon Taffer has renamed Edge of Town to Water’s Edge Island Bar.

There is a waterfall behind the bar to play on the island theme.

The inside looks more tropical with warmer and brighter colors and also has brand new furniture provided by a sponsor.

Frank is given a chef’s coat.

He also does excellent in the kitchen.

Jon leaves, saying he wants a wedding picture from Ozzie and Mark. 

So was the Edge of Town Bar Rescue visit a long-term success?

Keep reading to learn what happened next and if it’s still open in 2024 and beyond.