Date set for highly anticipated grand opening of Original Joe’s in Walnut Creek

(KRON) — The wait is over. After months of anticipation, Original Joe’s is finally opening in Walnut Creek.

Original Joe’s is opening on Thursday, Aug. 14 at 1300 S Main St., a restaurant spokesperson said. The restaurant opens to the public at 11 a.m., preceeded by a ceremony and a ribbon cutting with Walnut Creek Mayor Cindy Darling.

The restaurant is located in front of Macy’s on the Broadway Plaza entrance. It takes over the former space once occupied by Stanford’s Restaurant and Bar, which reportedly shut down in 2019. One of the big rennovations Original Joe’s has done to the Walnut Creek location is adding a second floor.

For the first time in its nearly 90-year history, Original Joe’s expands with its first East Bay location. To honor that historic milestone, the City of Walnut Creek has officially declared Aug. 14 as Original Joe’s Day.

Since Original Joe’s first opened in SF’s Tenderloin neighborhood in 1937, it has become one of the staple restaurants in the city. Original Joe’s currently has two other locations open in Daly City’s Westlake neighborhood and San Francisco’s North Beach at 601 Union St.

The owners, the Duggan family, also run other famed San Francisco restaurants like Little Original Joe’s and Elena’s Mexican Restaurant.

Original Joe’s was founded by Croatian immigrant Tony Rodin. The restaurant has been featured in Bon Appétit Magazine, a highly respected U.S. publication with a following of millions.