Status: CLOSED (October 2017)
SiP Bistro in Holly Springs, North Carolina was a dream that turned into a nightmare. Despite Restaurant Impossible’s intervention, the café closed just months after the makeover when control issues between the husband-and-wife owners proved impossible to resolve.
A Wife’s Dream
Sarah Hummell dreamed of owning her own restaurant. She had a background in hotel and restaurant management – she knew what she was doing. Along with her husband Justin, she had already successfully run a coffee shop in Winston-Salem for four years.
SiP Bistro was supposed to be the next step: adding food to the café concept they’d mastered. Three years in, it had cost them their money, their relationship, and Sarah’s confidence.
The Episode (Season 13)
Title: “Ambush: Out of Control”
Location: 128 Bass Lake Rd, Holly Springs, NC
Robert Irvine walked into a marriage in crisis. Justin was demeaning to the entire staff and refused to let Sarah take control or make decisions – even though she had the restaurant management experience he lacked.
Beyond the relationship work, Robert faced practical challenges: an extremely small kitchen that needed maximum efficiency and a dining room requiring complete renovation.
The Core Problem
SiP Bistro’s problems weren’t really about food or décor. They were about control. Justin couldn’t let go, and Sarah couldn’t assert herself. Restaurant Impossible could renovate the space and streamline the menu, but it couldn’t rewire a marriage.
The episode title said it all: Out of Control.
Rapid Closure
SiP Bistro closed in October 2017 – barely a year after the Restaurant Impossible makeover. The intervention couldn’t overcome the fundamental dysfunction at the restaurant’s core.
The space briefly closed for renovations after filming that never fully materialized. When it reopened, the underlying problems remained.
The Lesson
SiP Bistro is a cautionary tale about partnership. Sarah had the dream and the skills. Justin had the control issues that prevented either from flourishing. No amount of new equipment or fresh décor can fix a partnership where one person won’t let the other contribute.
Former Location
Address: 128 Bass Lake Rd, Holly Springs, NC
Closed: October 2017
Cuisine: Café, Bistro
SiP Bistro proves that restaurant success requires more than good food and nice décor. It requires partners who can actually partner.
Last verified: January 2026
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