Is Jack's Ale House Still Open? Bar Rescue Update (Sunnyside, NY)

Jack's Ale House in Sunnyside, Queens, was the subject of the November 2, 2014 episode "Anything You Can Yell, I Can Yell Louder." Brothers Jimmy and Brian McGowan, both New York City firefighters, had inherited the bar from their father in 2003; a 2011 renovation had driven away much of the existing clientele and left the business in serious debt. Recon spies found bartenders unfamiliar with basic cocktails such as a Harvey Wallbanger, and kitchen staff microwaving food and using only a single glove during prep.

Tension between the brothers came to a head on camera, prompting the host to suggest at one point that selling the bar might be the better option; their mother was brought in to help mediate between them. The rescue team leaned into the brothers' firefighting careers, renaming the bar Jack's Fire Department and adding firehouse-themed decor, equipment, and menu items, while also making use of a previously unused back patio. A mixologist and chef retrained the bar and kitchen staff on drink-making and food handling respectively.

Around six weeks after the relaunch, sales were reported to have more than tripled. The bar's owners largely kept the changes. In a later "Back to the Bar" follow-up segment, the host noted the bar had preserved the firehouse theme, cocktail program, and operating systems introduced during the original visit, though he also observed that one of the brothers still showed signs of the temper flagged in the original episode. As of recent updates, the bar's own website continues to publish a current food menu and posts regularly to its Instagram account about specials and karaoke nights, and Yelp reviews as recent as 2022 describe a firehouse-themed interior with a long-running connection to the show.