The Arena
The Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan has closed. It closed in July 2016 — 7 months after its Bar Rescue episode first aired. Its run exceeded 34% of the 141 rescued bars with a recorded closing date.
The episode
| Status | Closed (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Episode | "Unnecessary Toughness" |
| Season | Season 4, Episode 39 |
| Originally aired | November 22, 2015 |
| Original name | The Arena |
| Location | Ann Arbor, Michigan |
| Address | 203 E Washington St Ann Arbor, MI 48104 |
| Yelp | View on Yelp · 4.0★ |
| Google reviews | Read reviews on Google |
Key dates
- November 22, 2015Bar Rescue episode “Unnecessary Toughness” airs — Jon Taffer's rescue of The Arena, filmed earlier.
- July 2016Closed.
The rescue
Jon Taffer kept the name The Arena for the relaunch.
The Arena closed in July 2016, after owner Mike Flore was sentenced to up to five years in prison for tax evasion.
What happened next
In the six weeks after the rescue, The Arena grossed $220,000 in sales, and owner Mike initially appeared to have turned a corner. The Arena closed in July 2016, less than a year after the episode aired. The closure followed owner Brian Michael Flore's guilty plea to keeping more than $700,000 in sales tax collected over the previous ten years that should have been paid to the government. The investigation that led to the charge had begun in 2013.
Quick answers
Is The Arena still open?
The Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan has closed. It closed in July 2016 — 7 months after its Bar Rescue episode first aired. Its run exceeded 34% of the 141 rescued bars with a recorded closing date.
When did The Arena close?
The Arena closed in July 2016.
Where is The Arena located?
The Arena was located at 203 E Washington St Ann Arbor, MI 48104.
Sources: Reality TV Revisited · Reality TV Updates · Yelp · Wikipedia episode list. Compiled October 2026; cross-checked against local reporting and each bar's own web presence where available.
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