The long-awaited Original Joe's, a San Francisco dining staple with a history stretching back to 1937, is finally making its debut in Walnut Creek. Opening tomorrow, this family-run Italian American restaurant is set to occupy the former Stanford’s Restaurant and Bar spot at 1300 S. Main St., as reported by the SF Chronicle. The Duggan family, which took over the renowned establishment, is continuing a legacy that began with a 14-stool counter in the Tenderloin and survived through a devastating fire that razed the original location in 2007.
Stretching 10,000 square feet, the new Walnut Creek location boasts 300 seats, two sprawling outdoor patios, and a 50-foot kitchen counter signature to the Original Joe's brand, reminiscent of Taylor Street's original setup. Having been teased on Instagram, the chefs are already busy at work in the exhibition kitchen, perfecting the dishes that will grace the tables of eager East Bay customers seeking out the comfort of nostalgic Italian American cuisine, according to a post noted by SFGATE.
Co-owners and siblings John and Elena Duggan have their sights set on making this new establishment a "clubhouse" for the Walnut Creek neighborhood. With a belief in the East Bay market and its potential, they bring Original Joe's staples alongside popular dishes from their other ventures, catering to a clientele they've watched migrate and evolve over the years. "We saw it as a big market that we could ... hopefully make it a clubhouse for this neighborhood," John Duggan told the SF Chronicle.
The menu will feature a mix of timeless favorites and new additions, including zucchini fries and a more manageable cheeseburger variant from their Little Original Joe's outlet. Amid today's highly competitive restaurant scene, the Duggans embrace tradition over trend, relying on a multi-generational appeal that's touched families and foodies alike throughout the decades. "We receive emails and messages and DMs about people who have moved here to Walnut Creek. They want to bring their grandmothers. They want to bring their mothers," Elena Duggan shared with SF Chronicle, underlining patrons' profound connections with the brand.
