Ex-Judas Priest Frontman ‘Ripper’ Owens’ Bar Has Been Completely Transformed

An Akron, Ohio club owned by Tim "Ripper" Owens, the former Judas Priest frontman, saw sweeping changes tonight (Nov. 1) on Spike TV's Bar Rescue. Most notable was this: Ripper's Rock House was redubbed Tim Owens' Traveler's Tavern, but only after an extensive rehab process focused on a signature wings dish that featured sauce flavors from around the world.

"That is crazy," an emotional Owens said afterward. "I'm excited about the future of the brand, everything about it."

Owens called in Bar Rescue after the former Ripper's Rock House, which he co-owns with a local landscaping businessman, hit a lengthy rough patch. They estimated tonight that the faltering club was six months away from shuttering, but Owens admitted he'd never studied the books. He didn't even know what their front-end food costs were, having left everything to partner Micah Posten.

Consultant Jon Taffer, who offers struggling business owners hard-boiled advice each week on Bar Rescue, tore into Owens' management style. "No standards; no communication. This is not a jam session!" Taffer blurted at one point. "How moronic is this business?"

For his part, Owens has admitted that he and Posten "don't know how to run" a bar. He opened Ripper's Rock House in 2013 after a previous establishment called Ripper Owens' Tap House closed its doors. Issues Taffer and his hand-picked consultants found with the menu and drink offerings, basic configuration of the serving areas, kitchen cleanliness and staff professionalism made clear how systemic the issues had become at Owens' latest venture.

Ultimately, Jon Taffer told Owens that he needed to take a more central role in how the business operated, right down to how much they charged for individual items. He also asked that Posten recommit to the Ripper brand. "There's genius in this building," Taffer concluded, before suggesting the name change.

If you missed tonight's airing of Bar Rescue, episodes can also be found on spike.com. Tim "Ripper" Owens served as frontman on 1997's Jugulator and 2001's Demolition before Judas Priest decided to reunite with Rob Halford.

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