Eskimo Joe's
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Eskimo Joe's is a restaurant and bar located at 501 W. Elm in Stillwater,
Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...
.


History

Eskimo Joe's was opened by Steve File (who came up with the name) and Stan Clark (who later purchased File's interest and became sole owner), two graduates of nearby Oklahoma State University (OSU), on July 21, 1975. Originally, Eskimo Joe's was only a
bar Bar or BAR may refer to: Food and drink * Bar (establishment), selling alcoholic beverages * Candy bar * Chocolate bar Science and technology * Bar (river morphology), a deposit of sediment * Bar (tropical cyclone), a layer of cloud * Bar (u ...
, but when the drinking age was raised from 18 to 21 in 1984, the business became a
restaurant A restaurant is a business that prepares and serves food and drinks to customers. Meals are generally served and eaten on the premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services. Restaurants vary greatly in appearan ...
as well. The name came from the desire to express that Eskimo Joe's had the coldest beer in town. The restaurant, also called "Stillwater's Jumpin' Little Juke Joint," occupies a two story building with a unique atrium dubbed the "Joe Dome" featuring a retractable glass roof, built in 1992. Eskimo Joe's is a popular hang-out for OSU students and is located across the street from the main campus. It is an extended part of "The Strip," a hang-out zone of bars centered on Washington Street, and often features concerts and other late-night attractions for the college drinking scene, such as
Ladies Night A ladies' night is a promotional event, often at a bar or nightclub, where female patrons pay less than male patrons for the cover charge or drinks. In the United States, state courts in California, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin ha ...
or Coin Beer. In early 2003 Eskimo Joe's started a "Thirsty Thursday" promotion that charged a $5 cover and gave patrons all the domestic beer they cared to drink. This promotion has since changed to "bottomless bottles."


Media references

In the season 9 episode 12 of the ABC sitcom The Middle titled "The Other Man", the character Brad mentioned to Sue at the 18 minute mark that he and Luke went down the street to Eskimo Joe's. The scene was set where Sue attends college which was in Indiana. In 2005, '' Sports Illustrated'''s on-line magazine, SI on Campus, named Eskimo Joe's the third best collegiate sports bar in the U.S.Sports Illustrated at Eskimo Joe's
In 1990, during his commencement speech, President
George H. W. Bush George Herbert Walker BushSince around 2000, he has been usually called George H. W. Bush, Bush Senior, Bush 41 or Bush the Elder to distinguish him from his eldest son, George W. Bush, who served as the 43rd president from 2001 to 2009; pr ...
endorsed Eskimo Joe's
cheese fries Cheese fries or cheesy chips (latter British English) is a dish consisting of French fries covered in cheese, with the possible addition of various other toppings. Cheese fries are generally served as a lunch or dinner dish. They can be found ...
.Both President George H.W. and George W. Bush's commencement speech mention
/ref> In 2006, during his commencement speech, President
George W. Bush George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, Bush family, and son of the 41st president George H. W. Bush, he ...
followed his father's footsteps and also mentioned both the restaurant and the cheese fries. Eskimo Joe's is referenced in season 1 episode 2 of the Oblong's.


Merchandise and mascots

Eskimo Joe's is also famous for its branded merchandise. The Eskimo Joe logo, featuring the smiling cartoon Eskimo Joe and his slobbering canine friend Buffy, was created in 1975 by a freshman art student at OSU, Bill Thompson. The company runs a retail outlet connected to the restaurant in Stillwater, as well as a location in Tulsa, and mail-order and online catalog businesses; around the Christmas season, several temporary stores open in malls in cities around the state.


Restaurants

Eskimo Joe's is part of a chain of themed restaurants, all owned by Clark, that used to be called the "Three Amigos." In 1984, Stillwater Bay Oyster Company, a more upscale seafood and steak restaurant, opened; and in 1987, Mexico Joe's rounded out the trio. In 2000, Joseppi's, an Italian-themed restaurant, opened down the street from the relocated Mexico Joe's. The two buildings share the same antique-looking architecture and intricate interior design, and the restaurants share the same price bracket; slightly higher than the burgers and fries of Eskimo Joe's. For a brief time, the four Stan Clark restaurants were referred to as the "Fab Four" but Stillwater Bay (as its name had been shortened to by then) closed in 2005, returning the chain to the "Three Amigos" once more. Joseppi's closed on May 24, 2014. The website now informs patrons that a new restaurant, called Mojo’s, would be opening in Fall 2014 that would serve American fare and also contain a bowling alley. It closed in January 2018. Joseppis.co

, Retrieved on 30 October 2014.
The other restaurants feature mascots – Mexico Joe's is a sombrero and poncho wearing Joe with a donkey (Bucky); Joseppi's is Joe with a twirly Sicilian mustache and chef outfit accompanied by a monkey (Peppino). However, neither version is as popular as Eskimo Joe and Buffy. The restaurant was mentioned by
Jimmy Fallon James Thomas Fallon (born September 19, 1974) is an American comedian, television host, actor, and writer. He is known for his work in television as a cast member on ''Saturday Night Live'' and as the host of the late-night talk show ''The Ton ...
on October 6, 2009 after visiting the establishment for Orange Peel 2009. It was mentioned again on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert in 2018 in a segment done with native Stillwater actor James Marsden.


References

{{Reflist


External links


Official WebsiteVoices of Oklahoma interview with Stan Clark.
First person interview conducted on September 6, 2012, with Stan Clark, founder of Eskimo Joe's. Theme restaurants Restaurants in Oklahoma Buildings and structures in Stillwater, Oklahoma Restaurants established in 1975 Tourist attractions in Stillwater, Oklahoma