AKRON, Ohio -- One year after Spike TV’s Bar Rescue came in to help the struggling business, Tim Owens’ Travelers Tavern is closing for good.
The bar, which features an indoor stage for live music, opened in 2013 when Tim “Ripper” Owens -- an Akron native and former lead singer of Judas Priest -- partnered with Micah Posten.
The last day for food is Sept. 2. The last day for live music is Sept. 3.
The bar, located on Manchester Road near Lake Nesmith, started in 2013 when the duo opened it as Ripper’s Rock House.
“We brought in $90,000 in the first month, $90,000 in the second month,” Posten explained in the Bar Rescue episode, which aired last November. “I thought there was no way we could fail.”
Filming of the Bar Rescue episode happened last August, culminating with the TV production rebranding the location as Tim Owen’s Travelers Tavern.
Owens discussed the closure in a series of Facebook posts…
It is with deep regret that Micah and I have had to make the difficult decision to close the Travelers Tavern on Sept 2nd.
In the last few months and the months to come, my music schedule and Micah's Landscaping business have kept us and will continue to keep us from being available to focus on the Tavern as required. It is a tremendous commitment of time and resources to maintain a Restaurant and Music Venue and unfortunately, we are not able to commit the time and energy to this business that it deserves. We have had to make the difficult decision to commit our time and resources to our main careers.
We are lucky that we have had 3 great years with a amazing staff and wonderful memories and we will close being a successful restaurant and music venue!
We thank all our great employees who have worked so hard for us and we wish them all great success in everything they do.
Much love, respect and gratitude to everyone for all they have done!
Thanks you everyone
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Owens continued with another post:
Yes, all good things must come to an end!!! We hate to do this but like Micah said our main careers have just gotten way to busy ( Which is a good thing ) and that just makes it too hard on us and the business!! The Business was good, the staff was amazing, the bands rocked and the location couldn't of been better, So stop saying it wasn't and read our posts...Lets hope whoever buys it keeps, keeps the music, the great food and they have the time to put into it!!
( Even as I type this I am sitting in Seattle airport for business )
I thank you all for all the support!!
Tim Ripper Owens
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There was another post a few days later:
I am amazed!!! Some people don't even read the post and see why we are closing? Before you assume and trash us, TRY READING THE POST!! I know reading is hard, but you can do it!!
Thank you to the people who did read it and for all the kind words and well wishes.