TV Restaurants

Is Papa Joe's Sports Bar Still Open? Bar Rescue Update (Moreno Valley, CA)

Open reported

As of September 2026, Papa Joe's Sports Bar is listed open on realitytvupdates.com, reviewed by our team on September 7, 2026; not yet independently confirmed through direct contact.

Primary source
realitytvupdates.com ·

Last verified

What the source shows: Reality TV Updates reports the bar reverted to Papa Joe's/PJ's Sports Bar after Taffer's on-air rename to Layla's Pizza Pub and remained open as of 2024.

  • Season / episode Season 8, Episode 32
  • Original air date
  • Address 12220 Pigeon Pass Rd, Moreno Valley, CA 92557
  • Current name PJ's Sports Bar

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What happened after Bar Rescue?

Bar Rescue featured this Moreno Valley, California, sports bar in the episode "Long Live a Legacy" (S8E32), aired 2023-04-30. According to Bar Rescue tracking coverage from Reality TV Updates and Bar Rescue Updates, the bar was opened in 2012 by Joe Naim and Raja Batchon; at the time of the rescue it was losing about $5,000 a month and Naim was more than $200,000 in debt. During the televised rescue, Jon Taffer renamed the business from Papa Joe's Sports Bar to Layla's Pizza Pub.

Reality TV Updates reports that ownership later changed the name back to Papa Joe's Sports Bar, and that the business also identifies itself as PJ's Sports Bar; the outlet reported in 2024 that the bar remained open and serving customers at 12220 Pigeon Pass Rd, Moreno Valley, CA 92557, under that name rather than Layla's Pizza Pub. Reviews cited by that coverage praised the pizza, drinks, and service.

Google's Places record for the address lists the business as PJ's Sports Bar with an OPERATIONAL status, consistent with the 2024 report, though the website Google's listing points to, handhbar.com, returned an HTTP 403 response when checked 2026-09-08, so this record could not independently confirm current hours or menu from that page. An Instagram account, @pjs_sports_bar_, lists the business's location as Moreno Valley, CA, but no dated posts were reviewed to confirm activity closer to the present.

A Facebook page found under the search term "PJ's Sports bar" during this record's research is associated with a Murrieta, California address rather than Moreno Valley, and appears to be a different business; it was not used as a source for this record.

No source reviewed here gives a date more recent than 2024 confirming the bar's continued operation, and no information was found describing the specific decor, menu, or staffing changes Taffer's crew made during the rescue beyond the name change and its reversal.

Featured on Bar Rescue

Season / episode
Season 8, Episode 32
Original air date
Episode title
Long Live a Legacy
What was featured
A Moreno Valley sports bar Jon Taffer renamed Layla's Pizza Pub
Role
Featured restaurant
Name on the broadcast
Papa Joe's Sports Bar

Frequently asked questions

Is Papa Joe's Sports Bar still open in 2026?

As of September 2026, Papa Joe's Sports Bar is listed open on realitytvupdates.com, reviewed by our team on September 7, 2026; not yet independently confirmed through direct contact.

What happened to Papa Joe's Sports Bar after Bar Rescue?

Bar Rescue featured this Moreno Valley, California, sports bar in the episode "Long Live a Legacy" (S8E32), aired 2023-04-30. As of September 2026, Papa Joe's Sports Bar is listed open on realitytvupdates.com, reviewed by our team on September 7, 2026; not yet independently confirmed through direct contact.

What is Papa Joe's Sports Bar called now?

Now: PJ's Sports Bar (formerly Papa Joe's Sports Bar). As of September 2026, Papa Joe's Sports Bar is listed open on realitytvupdates.com, reviewed by our team on September 7, 2026; not yet independently confirmed through direct contact.

Where is Papa Joe's Sports Bar located?

12220 Pigeon Pass Rd, Moreno Valley, CA 92557. That is the address on the record as of September 7, 2026.

What season and episode of Bar Rescue featured Papa Joe's Sports Bar?

Season 8, Episode 32 of Bar Rescue, first aired April 30, 2023. The episode is titled “Long Live a Legacy”.

Did the makeover last at Papa Joe's Sports Bar?

The episode first aired April 30, 2023. Our most recent check was September 7, 2026 — 3 years later —: As of September 2026, Papa Joe's Sports Bar is listed open on realitytvupdates.com, reviewed by our team on September 7, 2026; not yet independently confirmed through direct contact.

What do reviews say since Bar Rescue?

Reviews cited by that coverage praised the pizza, drinks, and service. We summarise what dated sources report; we do not publish our own rating.

Is Papa Joe's Sports Bar still using the Bar Rescue menu or branding?

Google's Places record for the address lists the business as PJ's Sports Bar with an OPERATIONAL status, consistent with the 2024 report, though the website Google's listing points to, handhbar.com, returned an HTTP 403 response when checked 2026-09-08, so this record could not independently confirm current hours or menu from that page. Anything newer than our last check on September 7, 2026 may not be reflected here.

Every status on this site carries a confidence label and a date, and names the source it rests on. Read the Editorial & Corrections Policy for what each label means and how quickly we act on corrections. The questions above are generated from this record's own published fields — we never publish a question we cannot answer from the data.

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Visit info

Address
12220 Pigeon Pass Rd, Moreno Valley, CA 92557
Venue type
bar
Official website
handhbar.com

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