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Handlebar Cafe
Handlebar Cafe in Pawcatuck, Connecticut remains open as of October 2026 — 13 years and 3 months after its Bar Rescue episode first aired. No rescued bar with a recorded closing date has lasted longer.
The episode
| Status | Still open (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Episode | "Two Flew Over the Handlebars" |
| Season | Season 3, Episode 13 |
| Originally aired | July 21, 2013 |
| Original name | Handlebar Cafe |
| Location | Pawcatuck, Connecticut |
| Address | 210 S Broad St Pawcatuck, CT 06379 |
| Yelp | As Handlebar Cafe |
| Google reviews | Read reviews on Google |
Key dates
- July 21, 2013Bar Rescue episode “Two Flew Over the Handlebars” airs — Jon Taffer's rescue of Handlebar Cafe, filmed earlier.
The rescue
Jon Taffer kept the name Handlebar Cafe for the relaunch.
Reviews are mostly positive. The town council issued cease-and-desist orders over the mural and the pair of handlebars the show installed above the front entrance, and both were removed.
What happened next
Six weeks after the rescue, sales were up 30%. The owners nevertheless reversed much of the makeover: they dropped the Handlebar and Grill name in favour of the original Handlebar Cafe, removed the new drinks and restored the old décor. Two of the show's additions were removed for regulatory rather than creative reasons — the town issued cease-and-desist orders over the entrance handlebars and the side mural, citing zoning and signage rules, and both were taken down.
Quick answers
Is Handlebar Cafe still open?
Handlebar Cafe in Pawcatuck, Connecticut remains open as of October 2026 — 13 years and 3 months after its Bar Rescue episode first aired. No rescued bar with a recorded closing date has lasted longer.
Where is Handlebar Cafe located?
Handlebar Cafe is located at 210 S Broad St Pawcatuck, CT 06379.
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.
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