Original Joe's San Jose
Lou Rocca decided to open another Original Joe’s restaurant for his son and his family in the Bay Area and chose San Jose as the location. San Jose was at the time a growing city that presented a prime location for a new business. A space became available in San Jose’s downtown where a clothing store had just failed. Original Joe's San Jose opened in May 1956 at its current location on the corner of First and San Carlos Streets. The first owners were Lou Rocca Sr. and his son Lou Rocca Jr., along with partners Otto Tortore, and Nino Caramagno. As the years passed, ownership passed to Matt and Brad Rocca.
Original Joe's has been a staple of the downtown area of San Jose for over 50 years. It is the only restaurant in the downtown area of San Jose open after midnight and therefore has been a center of nightlife activity in the city since its inception. The restaurant is a favorite of the San Jose Police Department due to the hours and the good relations with the owners and staff. The restaurant also engenders many "regulars" who continue to patronize the establishment for reasons ranging from the food, the wines, or the atmosphere.
During the "Speed City" era, when nearby San Jose State College was a track and field powerhouse team, with many black athletes segregated and struggling to make ends meet, track coach Bud Winter arranged with Original Joe's to feed the athletes after practice.
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