Eskimo Joe's facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eskimo Joe's |
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Eskimo Joe's Sign
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| Restaurant information | |
| Slogan | Stillwater's Jumpin' Little Juke Joint Since 1975! |
| Established | July 21, 1975 |
| Current owner(s) | Stan Clark |
| Street address | 501 W. Elm Street |
| City | Stillwater |
| State | Oklahoma |
| Postal/ZIP code | 74074 |
| Country |  United States |
| Coordinates | 36°07′19″N 97°03′51″W / 36.12191°N 97.06419°W |
| Reservations | No |
| Website | Eskimo Joe's |
Eskimo Joe's is a famous restaurant in Stillwater, Oklahoma. It is located at 501 W. Elm Street. Many people, especially students from Oklahoma State University (OSU), enjoy visiting this popular spot.
History of Eskimo Joe's
Eskimo Joe's first opened its doors on July 21, 1975. It was started by two friends, Steve File and Stan Clark. Both of them had graduated from Oklahoma State University. Stan Clark later became the only owner of the restaurant.
The name "Eskimo Joe's" was chosen to suggest that the place offered very cold drinks. When it first opened, it was mainly a place for drinks. However, in 1984, the rules about who could buy drinks changed. Because of this, Eskimo Joe's also became a restaurant, serving food to its customers.
The restaurant building has two floors. It features a special glass roof that can open and close. This part of the building is called the "Joe Dome." It was built in 1992. Eskimo Joe's is right across the street from the main OSU campus. This makes it a favorite spot for students to hang out.
Mascots and Merchandise
Eskimo Joe's is also well-known for its fun merchandise, like T-shirts and hats. The famous Eskimo Joe logo was created in 1975. A freshman art student at OSU named Bill Thompson designed it. The logo shows a happy cartoon Eskimo Joe with his friendly dog, Buffy.
You can buy Eskimo Joe's merchandise in a store connected to the restaurant in Stillwater. There is also another store in Tulsa. You can even order items online or through a catalog. Around Christmas, temporary stores sometimes open in malls in other cities across Oklahoma.
Other Restaurants by Stan Clark
Eskimo Joe's is part of a group of restaurants owned by Stan Clark. This group used to be called the "Three Amigos." In 1984, a seafood and steak restaurant called Stillwater Bay Oyster Company opened. Then, in 1987, Mexico Joe's joined the group.
Later, in 2000, an Italian restaurant named Joseppi's opened. It was located near the Mexico Joe's restaurant. These two restaurants shared a similar old-fashioned building style. They also offered meals that were a bit more expensive than the burgers and fries at Eskimo Joe's.
For a short time, the four restaurants were called the "Fab Four." But Stillwater Bay closed in 2005. This brought the group back to being the "Three Amigos" again. Joseppi's also closed its doors in 2014. A new restaurant called Mojo's opened in its place, offering American food and a bowling alley. Mojo's closed in 2018.
The other restaurants also have their own mascots. Mexico Joe's features Joe wearing a sombrero and poncho with a donkey named Bucky. Joseppi's had Joe with a curly mustache and a chef's outfit, along with a monkey named Peppino. However, the original Eskimo Joe and Buffy mascots are still the most popular.
Eskimo Joe's has even been mentioned on TV! Jimmy Fallon talked about the restaurant on October 6, 2009. He had visited it for an event. It was also mentioned again on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert in 2018. This happened during a segment with actor James Marsden, who is from Stillwater.
