It’s not everyday a Santa Clarita business gets a complete makeover from a popular television show.

Shot Exchange, formerly known as The Tailgate, received a huge makeover from Spike TV’s show “Bar Rescue” in December, transforming the sports bar into a nightclub.  

Diane Miller co-owns the bar with her brother Mike. She is a fan of “Bar Rescue” and wrote the show five times before they agreed to the makeover.    

“We were getting the wrong crowd and it was getting run down since it’s been here 10 years,” Miller said. “We were hoping they’d give us a remodel and help us with the business end.”

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Host Jon Taffer and the shows team transformed the former sports bar in less than a week, removing all the sports memorabilia and a providing completely new dance floor, windows, bar, and more.  

“The whole bar is different, they took down everything,” Miller said. “We were nervous about them taking down all of the Dodger memorabilia because we’re a Dodger family, but now it’s beautiful.”  

Bar’s featured on “Bar Rescue” have no choice in what the show decides to do. Miller said Taffer looks at the areas demographics, common age groups and average household income then talks to the owners about their financial problems and why the bar has declined since its “hay day.”

“It was originally a sports bar, but all these new ones opened up and we’re just a hole in the wall so we had to lower our prices,” Miller said. “We (started) getting a really young, gang banger crowd.”

Shot Exchange now acts as a nightclub geared toward the local college crowd. Most nights have themes and instead of rap music, DJs play top 40s.

Miller said the older crowd, their “regulars,” don’t like the change, but business is picking up because the younger crowd enjoys the dance floor and larger appearance because of the large windows that were installed.

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Celebrity chef Brendan Collins also taught the bar’s chefs new dishes.

Miller recommends the CBR Shooters, chicken wrapped in bacon that are grilled and you can dip in ranch, as well as the Pops Chops, lamb chop sliders.

And of the new drinks offered, Miller suggests the California Three Party, three shots of different flavored vodkas that are poured into a glass at once.

“It looks cool and tastes great,” she said.

Mike’s wife and Shot Exchange bartender Carmen Miller recommends the pear martini.

“St Germaine, pear vodka, a bit of lime juice and muddled serrano chillis (are) shaken. It’s then strained into a chilled martini glass and garnished with a serrano slice, yum!” she said. 

The episode will premiere in late January/early February. Miller said Shot Exchange is trying to get an outdoor permit so they can have a viewing party with a projector showing the episode on a large screen outside.

Check back for updates regarding an exact show date and more details on the premiere party.

Bar hours are 11 a.m. – 2 a.m. daily and it is located at 26891 Bouquet Canyon Rd. in Saugus.

More information: Business

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