Status: CLOSED (March 2025)
Copper Steer Steakhouse in Safford, Arizona received Restaurant Impossible’s largest renovation ever, but ultimately couldn’t overcome its challenges. After six years of trying, the restaurant closed in March 2025.
A Deputy Marshal’s Dream
Parrish and Maureen weren’t restaurant people. He was a deputy U.S. marshal, she was a judicial assistant. When they retired from law enforcement, Parrish had a dream: own a steakhouse.
With no restaurant experience, Parrish built Copper Steer with his father. He and Maureen funded it themselves, eventually spending close to $500,000 on their dream. They owned the steakhouse for ten years before Restaurant Impossible arrived.
The Episode (Season 14, Episode 4)
Title: “Smoky Steakhouse”
Air Date: May 11, 2019
Location: Safford, Arizona
Robert Irvine and contractor Tom Bury described this as the largest renovation and demolition they had ever done on the show. The challenges were enormous.
The Problems
Robert identified two major issues plaguing Copper Steer:
- Location: Safford is in the middle of nowhere – a small mining town without the population base to support a steakhouse easily
- The Open Pit: An open pit barbecue in the middle of the restaurant filled the space with unpleasant smoke, driving customers away
The smoky interior problem was severe enough that the episode was titled “Smoky Steakhouse.”
The Massive Renovation
Irvine’s team tackled the smoke problem head-on, reconfiguring the restaurant to eliminate the issue that had been choking out customers and their appetite. The renovation was the show’s most ambitious to date.
Mixed Results
After the episode aired, reviews were mixed:
- Positive: Customers praised the improved food quality
- Negative: Service issues persisted
The fundamental challenge – operating a steakhouse in a remote Arizona mining town – couldn’t be solved by renovation alone.
The Closure
Copper Steer Steakhouse closed in March 2025, nearly six years after the Restaurant Impossible intervention. The space has since been occupied by Frontier Steak & Spirits.
While six years is longer than many Restaurant Impossible subjects last, it ultimately wasn’t enough. Some challenges – like a restaurant’s location in the middle of nowhere – can’t be fixed with $10,000 and two days of work.
Lessons Learned
Copper Steer illustrates an important truth: Restaurant Impossible can fix food, service, and décor, but it can’t change geography. A restaurant in a small, remote town will always face challenges that urban establishments don’t.
Parrish and Maureen got six more years to pursue their dream. That’s not nothing.
Last verified: January 2026
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