Bar Rescue Ep. 20032: Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market Wu Han Markets
Voice Over Narration:
Last year, more than 550 open markets opened up in the Wuhan province of China. If things don’t change for the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, they may need to close their doors for good. After a recent outbreak of the novel Coronavirus, the Chinese Government Inspectors are threatening to shutter the wet market entirely, and impose a 1,500 Yuan per day fine on owner Eddie Li, and partner Terry “D.L” Chungli.
Eddie:
I don’t see what all the fuss is about. We’ll open again once this passes.
D.L.:
I’m not even a little bit sick. We know what we’re doing. We’ve been at this for 15 years!
V.O.:
While these markets function like your everyday grocery stores, serving meat, poultry, and seafood to every day residents, they are also home to over 70 different live animals; and because of the way they’re kept in cages, it’s a literal breeding ground of cross-contamination, increasing the chances of highly contagious zoonotic diseases to travel from animal to human.
Unidentified Female:
I really like their prices, and they always give you extra, but I don’t like that they have bats underneath all their pork. It’s gross, but I guess you get what you pay for.
V.O.:
Now viewed as the epicenter of the latest Coronavirus outbreak, responsible for over 2,000 deaths globally, the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market is now also earning a bad reputation in the village, causing customers to shop at competitors’ stands.
Unidentified Male:
I’ve never bought anything more exotic than Red Snapper. I’m really not sure why they sell those other animals. Seems more trouble than it’s worth.
D.L.:
So, we have a menu with variety. We like to give our customers options. No one is forcing anyone to buy Pangolin, but if you do, we have it, and that’s the point. Plus, these aren’t for everyone, we keep all these animals for our more wealthy clients.
Eddie:
We thought about selling less farmed-Civet Cats, but then our stocks looked less interesting compared to the competition. We’ll figure out a way to sort it out. I’m not concerned about the fines.
V.O.:
With time running out, and Huanan Wholesale Seafood Market running on fumes, Eddie & D.L. have agreed to pull back the doors, bust open the books, and make a call for help to Bar Rescue. [MUSIC] Running a bar is not just a business. It’s a science. From the height of the stools to where your eyes fall first on a menu, no one knows more about bar science than Jon Taffer.
Jon Taffer:
Coronavirus is forcing people all over the globe to stay in, and it’s having a damning impact on the food and beverage industry.
V.O.:
The estimated loss of business from the Coronavirus is expected to weaken global economies for the next fiscal quarter by 50%, forcing many restaurants and family-owned bars and establishments to close up shop.
Jon:
I’ve rescued over 1,000 bars and restaurants that were fighting closure. I’m not about to sit back on the sidelines and let another business fail, just to bring down the rest of the global hospitality industry.
V.O.:
With the majority of the Wuhan Wet Markets under close government watch, the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market has opened a stall not far from its original spot.
Jon:
I’m sending in a few undercover shoppers as recon.
V.O:
Jon has called on two experts very familiar with the situation: rapper and businessman, Lil Wayne, and entrepreneur and actress Jenny McCarthy.
Lil Wayne:
I look at things as everything's meant to be.
Jenny MCarthy:
While this is my 30th episode of Bar Rescue, this is probably the most important by far.
Jon:
I’m sending in my two best friends for this job, because it’s so unique.
V.O.:
Wayne has played just under 20 shows in the Wu Han district over his career, so he knows the area well.
Lil Wayne:
Love me or hate me, I swear it won’t make or break me.
Jon:
You know, I love that D.L and Eddie are just two guys from the slums. Real self starters. It’s an amazing story, and I have a lot of respect for them. They opened their market in 2005, and feed over 2,000 people daily, but they got greedy.
V.O:
Also joining Jon and the crew are Celebrity Mixologist Mia Mastroianni and Chef Vic Vegas.
Jon:
Now I’m gonna send in Jenny and Tenuchi, as he’s known to the fans, and they’re gonna try to buy some exotic animals, and see if Eddie and D.L. take the bait. Also, I want to see just how filthy those conditions really are, so I gave them glass cams.
Vic:
Yeah those cages are too tight, it’s going to make any of that meat non-edible.
Jon:
Also I want Jenny and Wayne to see if they can get a price on Pangolin scales for Mia.
Mia:
I spoke with a few other vendors, and to make a cocktail using the scales, it should only cost a few Yuan, but it looks like they’ve tripled the asking price. I wonder why that is?
Jon:
It’s probably because they spend so much just to buy the DAMN animals! They’re jacking up prices for customers! It's disgusting(!), not to mention how unsanitary it all is!
Jenny:
Excuse me sir, how much are the bats if you buy more than one?
Eddie:
16000 Yuan for the whole crate.
Jon, Vic, and Mia:
Oh, are you FUCKING kidding me!
Wayne:
I don’t want the whole Pangolin, can you get me just the scales?
D.L.:
6000 Yuan. I have to clean it. I can do it right in front of you, but pay first.
Jon:
I need to step in before this gets any messier.
Jenny:
Sir, are these monkeys you have here supposed to be on top of these chickens?
Jon:
Hey, Eddie!
Eddie:
Oh shit, it’s Jon Taffer.
Jon:
Eddie! How much are you in hole? 400,000 Yuan? 500,000 Yuan?
D.L.:
More like 1,000,000 Yuan.
Jon:
You think stacking cages of wild animals with all types of diseases on top of one another, and charging 16,000 Yuan per crate is gonna get you out of the hole? No! It’s not!
Eddie:
I uh, was going to clean the cages this week...
Jon:
But you fucking didnt! And now 200,000 people all over the globe are fucking sick!
D.L.
Actually it was my turn this week.
Jon:
Well, you’re even more of a fucking idiot than HE IS!
D.L.
You’re right.
Jon:
Put the pangolin back in the cage, and wash your fucking hands!
Eddie and D.L:
Ok, anything.
Jon:
You two are going to clean this place up all night, and scrub every fucking cage down, and when I come back in the morning, we’re going to try and rescue this fucking market, and stop the spread of the virus. You hear me?
Eddie and D.L:
Yes.
COMMERCIAL BREAK. CONTINUED IN PART 2.