Brenda’s Inferno
Brenda’s Inferno (originally Armadillo Grill) in Phoenix, Arizona has closed. It closed in December 2021 — 1 year and 3 months after its Bar Rescue episode first aired. Its run exceeded 50% of the 141 rescued bars with a recorded closing date.
The episode
| Status | Closed (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Episode | "The Mother of All Failures" |
| Season | Season 7, Episode 16 |
| Originally aired | September 13, 2020 |
| Original name | Armadillo Grill |
| Relaunched as | Brenda’s Inferno |
| Location | Phoenix, Arizona |
| Address | 1904 E Camelback Rd Phoenix, AZ 85016 |
| Yelp | As Brenda’s Inferno |
| Google reviews | Read reviews on Google |
Key dates
- September 13, 2020Bar Rescue episode “The Mother of All Failures” airs — Jon Taffer's rescue of Armadillo Grill, relaunched as Brenda’s Inferno, filmed earlier.
- December 2021Closed.
The rescue
Jon Taffer relaunched Armadillo Grill as Brenda’s Inferno.
Brenda's Inferno closed on December 5, 2021, after its lease ended early ahead of the building's sale. Reviews after the show were mostly positive.
What happened next
Brenda kept Taffer's name and concept, trading as Brenda's Inferno, and customers responded well to the new food and drinks in the weeks after the rescue. The bar was forced to close temporarily under state Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and reopened, but its revenue that year was down more than 40 percent on 2019. Its final day was December 5, 2021, when the lease ended early because the building's owner was selling the property. The bar held a liquidation sale before closing, ending 24 years in business; the building was later demolished.
Quick answers
Is Brenda’s Inferno still open?
Brenda’s Inferno (originally Armadillo Grill) in Phoenix, Arizona has closed. It closed in December 2021 — 1 year and 3 months after its Bar Rescue episode first aired. Its run exceeded 50% of the 141 rescued bars with a recorded closing date.
What did Jon Taffer rename Armadillo Grill?
Jon Taffer relaunched Armadillo Grill under a new name: Brenda’s Inferno. The rescue is Bar Rescue season 7, Episode 16 (“The Mother of All Failures”), first aired September 13, 2020.
When did Brenda’s Inferno close?
Brenda’s Inferno closed in December 2021.
Where is Brenda’s Inferno located?
Brenda’s Inferno was located at 1904 E Camelback Rd Phoenix, AZ 85016.
Sources: Reality TV Revisited · Reality TV Updates · Wikipedia episode list. Compiled October 2026; cross-checked against local reporting and each bar's own web presence where available.
More rescued bars nearby
The closest other Bar Rescue bars to Brenda’s Inferno: