Is Royal Oaks Still Open? Bar Rescue Update (Youngstown, OH)

Royal Oaks, billed as the oldest bar in Youngstown, Ohio, dates to 1934 and is often described as the first bar in the city to receive a liquor license after Prohibition. By the time Bar Rescue's "Blowing Royal Smoke" aired on October 18, 2015, the bar and barbecue spot was run by brothers John and Louie Kennedy, who had owned it since 2000. The episode centered on friction between the two brothers, whose public disagreements and combative behavior toward each other and staff were putting the bar's decades-long history at risk.

Jon Taffer's team worked with the Kennedys on operations and service standards, aiming to get the brothers working together again rather than against each other, and the bar kept its original name through the relaunch. Royal Oaks has continued operating at its original Oak Street address in the years since the episode aired. A Yelp listing updated in August 2026 shows the business, now commonly listed as "Royal Oaks Bar & Grill," open at 924 Oak St, Youngstown, OH 44506, with 75 reviews and a four-star average rating; Tripadvisor separately lists the same address with a similar rating.

The bar maintains its own website, royaloaksbargrill.com, describing it as a traditional American restaurant and bar, and its Facebook and Nextdoor pages remain active. Posted hours as of 2026 show the bar open several days a week, including weekend afternoon and evening service. The episode did not result in a name change, unlike many Bar Rescue makeovers, and the "Bar & Grill" addition seen in some current listings appears to be a descriptive addition to the original name rather than a formal Taffer-driven rebrand. No reporting found in researching this record describes a change of ownership, closure, or legal trouble involving Royal Oaks since 2015; the Kennedy family's business appears to have continued in the same location without interruption. As of the most recent 2026 review activity, Royal Oaks remains an active, reviewed business in Youngstown, consistent with its long-standing role as one of the city's oldest continuously operating bars.