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Playa Island Bar
Playa Island Bar (originally The Sandbar Brewery & Grill) in Albuquerque, New Mexico has closed. It closed in November 2019, before the episode documenting its rescue had aired (April 5, 2020).
The episode
| Status | Closed (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Episode | "Life's a Beach" |
| Season | Season 7, Episode 6 |
| Originally aired | April 5, 2020 |
| Original name | The Sandbar Brewery & Grill |
| Relaunched as | Playa Island Bar |
| Location | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| Address | 4100 San Mateo Blvd NE Albuquerque, NM 87110 |
| Yelp | View on Yelp · 2.0★ from 8 reviews |
| Google reviews | Read reviews on Google |
Key dates
- November 2019Closed. — before the episode aired
- April 5, 2020Bar Rescue episode “Life's a Beach” airs — Jon Taffer's rescue of The Sandbar Brewery & Grill, relaunched as Playa Island Bar, filmed earlier.
The rescue
Jon Taffer relaunched The Sandbar Brewery & Grill as Playa Island Bar.
The Sandbar Brewery & Grill / Playa Island Bar closed in November 2019. The owners had changed the name back after Taffer left.
What happened next
The Playa Island Bar name was dropped almost immediately: shortly after Taffer left, the bar was trading again as The Sandbar Brewery. Sales had increased when producers checked in, but the recovery did not last long enough for the episode to air. The Sandbar Brewery closed in November 2019, three months after Taffer’s visit and five months before the episode was broadcast in April 2020, still using the Sandbar name rather than Taffer’s concept.
Quick answers
Is Playa Island Bar still open?
Playa Island Bar (originally The Sandbar Brewery & Grill) in Albuquerque, New Mexico has closed. It closed in November 2019, before the episode documenting its rescue had aired (April 5, 2020).
What did Jon Taffer rename The Sandbar Brewery & Grill?
Jon Taffer relaunched The Sandbar Brewery & Grill under a new name: Playa Island Bar. The rescue is Bar Rescue season 7, Episode 6 (“Life's a Beach”), first aired April 5, 2020.
When did Playa Island Bar close?
Playa Island Bar closed in November 2019.
Where is Playa Island Bar located?
Playa Island Bar was located at 4100 San Mateo Blvd NE Albuquerque, NM 87110.
Sources: Reality TV Revisited · Reality TV Updates · Yelp · Wikipedia episode list. Compiled October 2026; cross-checked against local reporting and each bar's own web presence where available.
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