Angry Ham's is a bar? I had no idea what it was and drive past it on a regular basis. Perhaps "garage" isn't useful to the general public. I thought it was a repair shop.

@Karen: Restaurant/bar ...

karen, the food is very good and the atmosphere is fun.

Angry Ham's Garage is a confusing name. I think it's a mistake to create a road sign that requires the reader to process hidden meaning.

People are busy. They look at the word "Garage" put the building in the "Garage" bucket in their heads and get on with their lives. Nobody looks twice.

Joe,
Really, we could all do without the incivility in your previous post. I don't have a problem with the name Angry Ham's, however Garage is misleading. While it didn't look like a repair shop (could have been a motorcycle one though), it certainly gave no indication that it served food. Why are you so upset? Are you the owner or just a regular? Either way I can guarantee you that I won't be setting foot in that place ever if it attracts people like you.

Joe, you're rude, but you're funny.

Food at Angry Hams is average at best. And we're talking about burgers and fries. But it's a fun atmosphere and we needed a beer and burger place.

Karen,
I apologize if I came across as uncivilized in my comments. I just don't understand people such as yourself who will look at one aspect of something and make an incorrect conclusion. If you look at the sign, then just look at the building, there are no service bays, no gas pumps, only a front entrance door as any other restaurant has you would see it's not a garage.
I am not trying to be a wise guy either, I once again apologize for coming across as angry and aggressive, and I hope you and your family do try Angry Ham's Garage, as I think you will be pleasantly surprised by what you find there.
FYI, I have nothing to do with the restaurant, but I do enjoy the atmosphere and the food.

Joe, Angry Ham's was in dire need of a make over! I think you are the only one that does not think that. I agree with the others, the name was misleading.

And Joe, I think you are little sensitive!

@Joe, I would be happy to accept your apology if I actually considered you to be sorry. Apologizing and then immediately implying that I'm stupid because I didn't come to the conclusions you drew undermines your sincerity. And you're going to have to include yourself in the category of people who jump to erroneous conclusions after looking at one aspect of something, because I also never eat at any of those restaurants you mentioned. TGIF's and the 99 have food which I consider of unacceptably low quality and I've never been to a Longhorn's. I did notice the lack of garage bays at Angry Ham's, but assumed that it either was a motorcycle or bike repair shop, or the bays were around the back of the building which you cannot see from the street. All of those are reasonable conclusions to draw given the evidence, especially when I'm driving past literally hundreds of businesses in Framingham that don't cause me any confusion whatsoever with their signage. Sadly, the point I was making was to try to help Angry Ham's make a better decision with their signage because I'm not the only one who didn't know they were a restaurant/bar.

My biggest concern about the name, from a business perspective, is that I don't understand what the business is all about. For example, Patch is a great name because it captures the idea that we're talking about a small geographic location.

Small business names should, generally, put the business into a category in people's heads. People don't have time to think deeply about a business, they want to categorize it, understand it's uniqueness, and move on. They want to answer the question, "<name> is a <business category> that <uniqueness>.

Patch is a website that focuses on local news.

John Harvard's is a restaurant that serves microbrew beer.

Redline Diner is a restaurant that caters to car owners.

Angry Ham's is a restaurant (if you say so) with a ???. BBQ? Biker Bar? Motorcycle Theme? Pork focus?

That's why the name doesn't work. It doesn't convey the businesses uniqueness, and if I don't understand the uniqueness, I'll probably forget it exists.

it's a quirky name that I think was meant to evoke a place where people of all ages, yes it is geared to families, can go relax and have fun with friends, watch a game or two on the large tvs and even play pool!

Ray,
Just stop by and try it, take Karen with you.

Joe, I hate to burst your bubble but most people from around here thought this was a biker bar and still do. I am imagining that you are a middle aged white man who owns a bike or wishes he does, who frequents the "Garage" often.Although it's refreshing to see such passion in people, I think this passion of yours is a little disturbing

Angry Hamm's is not the worst name that we've had in Framingham. The worst name was given to one of the many dead restaurants that have been sucked into the old Liams tar pit.

The restaurant was called Martini's. It had this New York sophisticated font and seemed to offer martinis, expensive food, a dark atmosphere, and memories of Sinatra and the Rat Pack.

It was really a sports bar.

I didn't discover this until literally the week before it closed. Meanwhile my buddy and I had spent football season lamenting the lack of a good place to go watch Monday Night football.

I think we should make a motion in Town Meeting that Angry Hamm's be renamed to Angry Fans and be converted into a sports bar.

:-)

Joe R. so not cool I think Louis without a last name was just kibbitzing with Ray about the bike bar comment.

Ray and Karen, Angry Hams, whatever, try it -- you can have a sandwhich or pizza, great for sharing and a drink. The interior if very open and yes there are motorcycles as part of the decor -- but it's bright and not dingy.

MNF and Pizza? That is worth a shot.

If I'm there Ray, the 1st round is on me.
Have a good one.

Man, what a heated convo. I'm from Watertown and had never heard about the establishment until I flipped over from MNF and saw the show. (Like you, I hate the Steelers and they were losing.) I looked for Octane online and was making a point to go there, and bring friends, because it was such a great story. First thing I saw on Google was it seems the bar is regressing, and now I don't feel so intent about going. Not to say I won't, but WTF? I don't think people are offering ideas about the name and their experience driving by out of malice. Local people want to see a local, non-chain, spot do good. I agree with the folks saying that Angry Ham's is not a good name for the reasons they mentioned. I also agree with Joe that Octane isn't either, but at least it had bar & grille on it. Why not just come up with a new name? Have the Patch make a contest for Framingham/region to come up with the best name with a year's worth of free weekly burgers as the prize - good PR for 52 x $5. I vote Framing Burgers Garage but as you can tell, I'm no expert. Oh ya, maybe you can sell the Octane signs and pay for new stationary.

Common sense comment: If this palce had been fine they would not have had to be on a show that does makeovers on failing bars. They wouldn't have needed a makeover and would not have been on the outs. That is just commone sense. For those peole who are arguing to the death about this place, it is just that simple.

I for one dislike the name. I think its a slam to our town and a disrespect to the tv show that gave them a free and needed makeover to change it back. It doesnt seem family friendly to me.

To those who don't like the name, give it a few months... I'm sure the next owner will change it.

Bottom line if the place was making money, a rescue would never have been needed. The restaurant business is a zero sum game

Just saw this episode and I am from Australia. I am shocked to see they have changed the name back because to be honest, Garage, Garage,Garage was written all over it not a restaurant or bar at all. From the inside, seeing the show it left me feeling it was a bit of a "rough joint" or a hangout for drongos. I agree with an earlier post that if they were in no way shape or form "in trouble" then they would not have needed Bar Rescue's help at all. If they were so successful or doing "ok" then why take the hand out from the show? I am guessing that continuing on with the good work that Bar Rescue did would have ultimately meant an end to the bad rep, "wrong doings" , "favors" , and general "thuggery" going on at that place cause it was pretty obvious that it was no fine standing local business place thats for sure.

I think the point that is being missed is the name Angry Ham name is fine. To add garage to the title when the building looks like a repair shop is misleading especially when it is right off the highway. If you are not familiar with the area you are not checking the windows for mechanics working. I also believe octane sucks. Just change Garage to bar and grill and business will pick up. I went in recently for lunch, service was good food was good (maybe a little overpriced) but otherwise a great place. The outside does not do the inside justice. Also Ham does give the impression to unknowing people that pork will be a speacialty, why not roll with that?

Why is it that the management asked for help, got it, started making money because of it, and then threw it all away? I can tell you that anyplace that says "angry" on it is a turn off.

How obvious is it that "joe" is a owner of angry hams? No customer spends this much time on a website defending a crappy bar

People are so shallow and simplistic...if you have 2 ounces of awareness about your surroundings in life, and get out of the bubble, you find out pretty fast what this and any place of business is. Wow people wake up. Is Johnny Rockets a local launch site for NASA ...must BE. where are they hiding those rockets?

That was a serious slap-in-the-face, to change the name back, after having gone on Bar Rescue. Was it all about getting the free upgrades and money poured into the bar? I wonder, was it Joe's intention to go back to Angry Ham's all along? Why pretend to like the upgrades, on the show, when it is clear ownership has completely reverted back to the original concept (which is unfocused and disrespectful to, both, the town and John Taffer). Why waste John Taffer's time? You knew what the show was about! Why get involved in it (with the understanding he would completely remake the bar) and then change it back to what it was? Either Angry Ham's does not want to succeed or they just want free handouts.

I'm watching this episode right now. I always Google to see if the bar is still open today with every episode I watch. I don't understand why this show is still on. About time the show airs the businesses are already closed down. Everybody they help is so far gone that nothing will really help short of Jesus Christ holding the next last supper. And then....the ones that stand a chance do not follow through with suggestions and changes. Plus....I don't think that Jon looks @ the whole picture. What works for him and others may not work for the people he is trying to help. When he runs up on resistance and people who obviously don't want real help, he should walk away. These people do not want help. They want a free makeover. What they don't realize is no one wants to eat at a "should have been condemned years ago" place where the same piss poor management, owners and workers still work. The place is updated but the attitudes and practices are the same. As soon as he leaves they are back to being nasty, rude, slow and using old, processed, and cheap food. Why call a show, any show, for help and then fight the help tooth and nail to save what is not currently working? I know you have to create a little drama for crowd appeal...but seriously?

I recorded the show yesterday, and watched it today. If some of the places planned on keeping up with the things suggested to them and continued running with the same names I could almost promise I would have made a designated trip just to experience what each bar had to offer. Now i know i am only one customer out of billions in the world.. but word of mouth is the best advertisement right? So if i had a fantastic trip, and told ALL my family and friends about it.. they would check it out passing through, and than do the same.. Every little bit helps, it's very disappointing knowing that people who ask for help, end up turning around and just throwing it all down the drain. But watching some of the episodes i could tell some of the people really did not care about there business surviving. And even perhaps started up the business on a whim. Owning a business is no walk in the park, I myself have never actually owned one myself. By i worked extremely closely with a business owner and learned a lot! It's too bad all the hard work of the crew of bar rescue goes to waste!

I just ate at Angry Ham's on Friday night, the food is actually great. They have the best buffalo wings. But overall, this place is spectacular! Looks like the only reason why people go now is because of the show and by them changing everything back just shows they dont care about nobody but themselves. They just used the show to get some recognition and thats wrong!

I think both names are horrid. And "The Bone" is still the bone..they never changed it back. I thought Angry Hams' WAS a garage...lol Stoopid name.

by the way you spelled STUPID wrong...irony?...

I have to agree, Ham's is a surprisingly good restaurant for the family. I went there once just to check it out and was amazed by the number of kids there with their families. Since then I have brought the family numerous times. We have gone there twice on McCarthy Elementary school nights, when they give money back to the school.

Ham's has also helped out on McCarthy math night.

Good selection of food, decent prices.

I also went there for the Bruin's Stanley Cup Finals games. Now THAT was an amazing experience. If the Bruins go deep again this year, that is the place I will be sure to go.

change the name back i go by there an yes it is confusing reading that sign i thought it was a auto shop an the bays where out back an yes i can voice my opinion my family has lived in FRAMINGHAM FOR EVER but when you have people that own a business with the attitude they have at ANGRY HAMS what more could you want its all about the $$$$$$$$$ for them not the town just my opinion

Love this bar! Best place to watch a game! If you don't like the name, find somewhere else to go. More beer for me!

They wanted the make over because they were bleeding cash. Doesn't matter how good the food is if you have a negative cash flow. Negative cash flow means eventual bankruptcy. Now that the name has been changed back, is the cash flow positive? I guess time will tell. If you see the doors closed then the bleeding did not stop. Kind of like going to the doctor to have a cut on the jugular patched, then deciding to rip off the bandage.

This place is off the highway? Driving by this place with my kids - I would not bring them there, would not perceive this as a family destination because of either name and the image of the girl with the big boobs Taffer added on the front. Watching the show, Taffer at least set this up as an adult eating and dining establishment. The confusion of just what it is is apparent in these posts - one person called it a great sports bar. Some call it a family place. You can't be everything to everyone - it's just a mush.

These shmucks are kibitzing and not realizing our vegan needs.

I think Susan is totally happening. That being said, people don't have the time to decypher obscure names. If the place says "angry" they will assume it is a biker bar with fighting, drugs and trouble with the law. If the place says "Garage", they will assume it is an auto garage. They will not bother to stop and reconoiter the situation. In addition, the business will never grow its clientele with new residents, tourists and suburbanites, they will just keep their small local clique which will not keep the business afloat

This is pretty simple. If the name offends or does not work for half of the people. if only 1/3 of potential new customers can't figure out it's a Bar and even assume it may be a Garage, then it is not doing the Bar a service. Success relies on new customers. Just having regulars could keep a Bar going, but true success means keeping a new stream of buyers. Just like Apple has to come out with new Products to stay relevant and make huge profits - the same goes for Restaurants and Bars. Need a good mix of New and Old/Regular.

My wife and I have eaten there a dozen times. Good reasonably priced food with friendly service. It is one of our "go to" places to eat. I hope they establish and maintain a good reputation as a local eatery.

Angry Ham's Garage is THE worst name for a restaurant/bar.... if someone is driving by, they will never take a second glance and risk causing an accident to figure out the details of the establishment. The owners are foolish to rename it back after a beautifully done makeover. Some people are just too stubborn and business ignorant to put their own egos aside and do what is best for themselves and their staff.

What a bunch of morons... They had the good fortune of having their bar remade into a profitable venture, and then kicked the advice to the curb and went back to being a dive with lame pictures of themselves at the bar. These guys are not smart at all. I would bet dimes to dollars this dive is out of business in a couple years, and the owners end up being unemployed drunks.

I always thought it was a garage. A place to never crossed my mind. Why Angry Ham. Happy ".....Ham's Garage bar andgrill

Oops, a a place to eat

What a bunch of idiots... Players .. Took advantage of a very talented person who went out of his way to help your establishment gain some respect in a hard working blue collar town.. The owner Tim, is an ASS. Perhaps he should learn how to run a successful business from his siblings...