Original Joe's

The first Original Joe's was established by a Croatian immigrant, Ante "Tony" Rodin in 1937.{{cite news |title=Original Joe's; New Restaurant - Old Soul |url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Original-Joes-New-Restaurant---Old-Soul-137932283.html |publisher=NBC}} The restaurant was originally located at 144 Taylor Street in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood, and initially consisted of a 14-stool counter on a saw-dust covered floor.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sfexaminer.com/venerable-original-joes-is-back-and-its-even-better/|title=Venerable Original Joe's is back — and it's even better|date=February 24, 2012|first=Patricia|last=Unterman |website=The San Francisco Examiner|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-05}} As business grew, Rocca and Rodin leased a vacant space next to them, which allowed the addition of a full dining room.{{cite news | work=San Francisco Chronicle | accessdate=2007-10-13 | title=Fire forces S.F.'s Original Joe's to close | first1=Kevin | last1=Fagan | first2=Stacy | last2=Finz | date=October 13, 2007 | url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/13/BA7NSP4LG.DTL}} Later, more space became available next to the dining room enabling the addition of a full bar, which resulted in its final size. It was known for serving people from all walks of life "from the head politician to the head prostitute"; serving old-fashioned, Italian-American fare, the restaurant prepared dishes in an open kitchen.

In 2007, Original Joe's closed due to a fire that began in the restaurant's flue just before lunchtime. The blaze affected the eatery and the single-room occupancy (SRO) hotel upstairs, and the damage to the property was too extensive for the restaurant to resume operating at that location. After years of delays involving insurance and other financial matters,{{cite news | url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/03/FD6O14FIP6.DTL | title=Original Joe’s Eyeing New Home for 2009 | work=San Francisco Chronicle | date=December 3, 2008 | accessdate=2012-01-27}} the restaurant reopened in a new location in the North Beach neighborhood in 2012, under the ownership and operation of Tony Rodin's grandchildren.{{cite news | work=San Francisco Chronicle | accessdate=2011-09-26 | title=Original Joe's will reopen in North Beach | first=Paolo | last=Lucchesi | date=April 7, 2011 | url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/04/06/DDUH1IQF2T.DTL}} The location was previously occupied by Joe DiMaggio's and Fior d'Italia.{{Cite web|url=https://sf.eater.com/2012/1/26/6618983/mayor-lee-rings-in-original-joes-glorious-return-today|title=Mayor Lee Rings In Original Joe's Glorious Return Today|last=Alburger|first=Carolyn|date=2012-01-26|website=Eater SF|access-date=2018-12-05}} The original Tenderloin location is slated to be marked by one of nine commemorative plates throughout the neighborhood recognizing locations of historical significance.{{cite news | work=San Francisco Examiner | accessdate=2011-09-26 | title=Marking the Tenderloin’s historical side | first=Joshua | last=Sabatini | date=September 17, 2011 | url=http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/2011/09/marking-tenderloin-s-historical-side | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111195313/http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/2011/09/marking-tenderloin-s-historical-side | archive-date=November 11, 2011 | url-status=dead }}

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee declared January 26 as "Original Joe's Day".

Joe's of Westlake closed its doors at the end of January 2014 since its inception in 1956 by Bruno Scatena, a former business partner of Tony Rodin at Original Joe's in San Francisco.{{Cite web|url=http://projects.sfchronicle.com/2018/top-100-restaurants/original-joes-westlake|title=Original Joe’s Westlake: Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants 2018|website=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=2018-12-05}}{{Cite web|url=https://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/blog/2013/11/23/joes-of-westlake-to-be-taken-over-by-original-joes-family/|title=Joe’s of Westlake to be taken over by Original Joe’s family|first=Paolo|last=Lucchesi|date=2013-11-23|website=Inside Scoop SF|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-05}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2016/02/22/legendary-joes-of-westlake-restaurant-reopens-after-two-year-hiatus/|title=Legendary Joe’s of Westlake restaurant reopens after two-year hiatus|date=2016-02-22|website=The Mercury News|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-05}}

In the early 1980s, Bruno Scatena's daughter assumed management responsibilities of the restaurant after her father's passing. When she realized she could no longer operate the restaurant herself, she arranged to sell the building and land to the Duggan Family in 2014. After a two-year closure for extensive front-to-back renovations, the restaurant re-opened in February 2016 as the brand's second location and dubbed Original Joe's Westlake.

The Original Joe's San Jose is the oldest remaining restaurant in the former Original Joe's local chain, however since 1980 it has been independently owned (from the San Francisco and Westlake locations) and it is technically not affiliated anymore.{{Cite web |date=2017-06-29 |title=The 13 Best Local Food Chains In The Bay Area: SFist |url=https://sfist.com/2017/06/29/best_local_food_chains_sf/ |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=SFist |language=en}}

• 2018, San Francisco Chronicle Top 100 Brunch 2018|SF Chronicle - Top 100 - Brunch {{Cite web|url=https://projects.sfchronicle.com/2018/top-100-restaurants/brunch|title=Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants: Brunch|website=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=2018-12-05}}
• 2018, San Francisco Chronicle Michael Bauer - Five Favorite Burgers {{Cite web|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/restaurants/article/Michael-Bauer-s-five-favorite-burgers-so-far-12077005.php|title=Michael Bauer’s five favorite burgers so far this year - SFChronicle.com|date=2017|website=www.sfchronicle.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-05}}
• 2017, SF Gate Most San Francisco Restaurants {{Cite web|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Most-San-Francisco-restaurant-classic-favorites-12164370.php|title=The most San Francisco restaurants: The true classics|last=Mullins|first=Jessica|date=2017-09-03|website=SFGate|access-date=2018-12-05}}
• 2017, American City Business Journals San Francisco's 5 favorite restaurants {{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/slideshow/2017/08/18/san-francisco-5-favorite-restaurants-zuni-maybecks.html|title=Here are San Francisco's 5 favorite restaurants|website=www.bizjournals.com|access-date=2018-12-05}}
• 2017, Zagat 9 SF Bay Area Restaurant Families You Need to Know {{Cite web|url=https://www.zagat.com/b/9-sf-bay-area-restaurant-familes-to-know|title=Zagat|website=www.zagat.com|access-date=2018-12-05}}
• 2017, PureWow Things Every San Franciscan Must Add to Their Foodie Bucket List {{Cite web|url=https://www.purewow.com/food/foodie-bucket-list-san-francisco|title=35 Things Every San Franciscan Must Add to Their Foodie Bucket List|first=Allison|last=McCarthy|date=2017-06-05|website=PureWow|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-05}}
• 2016, SF Weekly Eat: Original Joe's of Westlake {{Cite web|url=https://archives.sfweekly.com/sanfrancisco/eat-original-joes-of-westlake-original-joes-of-westlake-daly-city-original-joes-googie-steakhouse-ribeeye-sears-fine-food/Content?oid=4642057|title=Eat: Original Joe's of Westlake|last=Kane|first=Peter Lawrence|website=SF Weekly|language=en|access-date=2018-12-05}}
• 2016, San Francisco Chronicle Top 10 new restaurants of 2016{{Cite web|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/restaurants/article/Top-10-new-restaurants-of-2016-10801143.php|title=Top 10 new restaurants of 2016 - SFChronicle.com|date=2016-12-16|website=www.sfchronicle.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-05}}
• 2016, Harpers Bazaar 88 Things to Do and See in San Francisco{{Cite web|url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/travel-dining/g8256/things-to-do-san-francisco/|title=88 Things to Do and See in San Francisco|first=Kelly|last=Lack|date=2016-12-09|website=Harper's Bazaar|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-05}}
• 2016, Eater The Best Family-Owned Restaurants in the US{{Cite web|url=https://www.eater.com/ad/maps/the-best-family-owned-restaurants-in-the-u-s|title=The Best Family-Owned Restaurants in the US|first=Marcy|last=Franklin|date=2016-11-03|website=Eater|access-date=2018-12-05}}
• 2015, SF Gate Best dishes{{Cite web|url=https://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/blog/2015/09/11/best-dishes-from-absinthe-petit-crenn-original-joes-and-more/|title=Best dishes from Absinthe, Petit Crenn, Original Joe’s and more|first=Michael|last=Bauer|date=2015-09-11|website=Inside Scoop SF|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-05}}
• 2014, 7x7 San Francisco's Best Old-School Restaurants{{Cite web|url=http://www.7x7.com/san-franciscos-best-old-school-restaurants-1787020022.html|title=San Francisco's Best Old-School Restaurants|website=7x7.com}}
• 2013, Conde Nast San Francisco's Best New Restaurants{{Cite web|url=https://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2013-06-18/san-francisco|title=San Francisco's Best New Restaurants|last=Bauer|first=Michael|website=Condé Nast Traveler|language=en|access-date=2018-12-05}}
• 2012, Inside Scoop SF - Mayor Ed Lee declares today Original Joe's Day

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://originaljoes.com/north-beach/ Original Joe's North Beach San Francisco]
• [https://projects.sfchronicle.com/2017/top-100-restaurants/ Top 100 Restaurants in Bay Area] in SF Chronicle
• [https://www.bonappetit.com/story/american-chinese-food-red-sauce-treatment Red Sauce Article] in Bon Appétit

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{{Restaurants in San Francisco}}

Category:Italian-American culture in San Francisco

Category:European restaurants in San Francisco

Category:North Beach, San Francisco

Category:Restaurants established in 1937

Category:Italian restaurants in California