Original Joe's Italian Restaurant Opening First East Bay Location Thursday: Reports

WALNUT CREEK, CA — For the first time in almost 90 years, Original Joe’s is crossing the bay, and fanfare awaits on the other side. On Thursday, the celebrated North Beach Italian restaurant founded in 1937 will open its first East Bay location at Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek, at the site of the former Stanford’s Restaurant and Bar, according to numerous reports confirmed by the restaurant.

On Thursday at 11 a.m., the new location will be celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony that will feature Walnut Creek Mayor Cindy Darling, and co-owners and siblings John and Elena Duggan, grandchildren of founder Tony Rodin. The city has even designated Aug. 14 as “Original Joe’s Day” to honor the long-awaited opening.

The original Original Joe’s was opened in 1937 as a 14-stool counter in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district by Croatian immigrant Tony Rodin, according to the restaurant. It quickly became known for its abundant portions, reasonable prices, and well-prepared Italian-American comfort food like hamburgers, steaks, pastas, and seafood. It also pioneered what restaurateurs call “Joe’s Concept”: an exhibition kitchen, leather booths, smooth cocktails, and an Italian-American menu.

Original Joe’s became a San Francisco institution, attracting as many as six million visitors per year, according to a statement from the city of Walnut Creek. A new location opened in the Westlake neighborhood of Daly City in 1956. The Tenderloin location burned down in 2007, but a new North Beach location opened in 2012.

The Duggan family, which took over in the 1980s, were reportedly considering a Walnut Creek location for several years, and eventually selected the bustling, recently-built Broadway Plaza development.

“Original Joe’s, the iconic San Francisco Italian American restaurant, selected a prominent corner space in the plaza for its first East Bay location, drawn by the area's strong foot traffic and ideal location,” the city said in a statement. “Owners John and Elena Duggan recognized the retail center’s potential, joining a growing list of restaurateurs capitalizing on Broadway Plaza’s estimated six million annual visitors and revitalized energy.”

The Walnut Creek will feature Original Joe’s classic lunch, dinner and weekend brunch menus featuring items like cheeseburgers, steaks, chicken parmesan, and all varieties of pasta, mixing traditional Italian-American food with more contemporary Northern California flourishes.

The new location will be located at 1300 S. Main Street. Visit originaljoes.com for more information.