Sloppy Joe's facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Sloppy Joe's Bar
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Sloppy Joe's Bar
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| Location | Key West, Florida, United States |
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| Built | 1933 |
| NRHP reference No. | 06000957 |
| Added to NRHP | November 1, 2006 |
Sloppy Joe's Bar is a famous place in Key West, Florida, United States. It is a historic bar that has been at the corner of Duval and Greene Street since 1937. It's known for its fun atmosphere and its connection to the famous writer, Ernest Hemingway.
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History of Sloppy Joe's Bar
The story of Sloppy Joe's Bar began on December 5, 1933. This was the day a law called Prohibition ended in the United States. Before this, it was against the law to sell alcohol.
In Key West, many people didn't agree with Prohibition. Joe Russell was one of the people who ran a secret place where he sold drinks. Ernest Hemingway, a famous writer who lived in Key West, sometimes visited Joe Russell's place. They became good friends.
When Prohibition ended, Joe Russell moved his business to Greene Street. He opened a legal bar called the Blind Pig. Later, he added a dance floor and changed the name to the Silver Slipper. It was a simple, friendly place where people could relax and have fun.
Ernest Hemingway was a regular customer at Joe Russell's bar. He suggested changing the name to Sloppy Joe's. This name came from a club in Havana, Cuba, run by Jose Garcia Rios. His club sold drinks and seafood. The floor was often wet from melted ice, so people called his place "Sloppy Joe's." The name stuck for Joe Russell's bar too!
In its early days, Sloppy Joe's had some well-known people working there. One was "Big" Skinner, a friendly bartender who worked there for over twenty years. Big Skinner, Joe Russell, and Ernest Hemingway are shown in a famous painting called "Hemingway and Friends." This painting hangs in Sloppy Joe's today.
Moving to Greene and Duval Street in 1937
Sloppy Joe's moved to its current spot on May 5, 1937. The move happened because Joe Russell didn't want to pay a higher rent. The rent was going to go from three dollars a week to four dollars! Luckily, a building at the corner of Duval and Greene Streets was empty. This building was built in 1917 and had beautiful Cuban tiles and ceiling fans. Joe Russell bought it for $2,500.
The bar never actually closed during the move! Customers simply picked up their drinks and carried them. All the furniture was also moved down the street to 201 Duval Street. Service started again almost right away. The new Sloppy Joe's had the longest bar in town.
Joe Russell was a "Conch," which is what people call natives of Key West. The name comes from a type of shellfish found in the waters around Key West. Joe Russell was a boat captain and a fishing friend of Ernest Hemingway for twelve years. Hemingway even used Joe Russell as a character in his book, To Have and Have Not.
When Joe officially opened the bar, Hemingway and his friends were regular customers. Hemingway even joked that he was a co-owner. His group of friends included other writers and local people. They spent their days talking, laughing, and creating the legend of Sloppy Joe's.
When Hemingway left Key West in 1939, he left some personal items in a house next to Sloppy Joe's. These items were later moved to a back room at the bar. In 1962, after Hemingway passed away, his wife found many interesting things there. These included writings, letters, and personal items. Some of these items, like a pair of snow skis, were given to the bar to display.
Joe Russell passed away on June 20, 1941, at 53 years old. He is buried in the Key West Cemetery.
About Sloppy Joe's Today
Sloppy Joe's was bought by the Snelgrove and Mayer families on September 8, 1978. These two families have owned it ever since.
The bar is open every day of the year. It opens at 9:00 AM (noon on Sundays). Sloppy Joe's has four main parts: the bar, food, live entertainment, and a gift shop. There is live music on stage every day from noon until late at night. The performers play many different kinds of music.
Just like in Joe Russell's time, friendly bartenders welcome visitors almost all day and night.
The main bar building was built in 1917. The second building, which has the kitchen and Joe's Tap Room, was built in 1892.
Joe's Tap Room is connected to Sloppy Joe's. It opens daily at noon and has the same food menu. It also offers many different kinds of craft beers.
Sloppy Joe's is also the home of the yearly Ernest Hemingway Look-Alike contest. This fun contest started in 1981.
On November 1, 2006, Sloppy Joe's Bar was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site.
Owners of Sloppy Joe's
- Joe “Sloppy Joe” Russell (1889–1941), the first owner
- Joe Russell Jr.
- Lillian Spencer
- Mama Joe and Papa Joe “Slim” Galaski (they leased the bar)
- Stan and Marcy Smith (1960–1978)
- Snelgrove and Mayer families (1978 to today)
Other Locations
Sloppy Joe's also has other locations. You can find one in Treasure Island, Florida. A third location opened in Daytona Beach, Florida in February 2010.
Images for kids
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Joe “Sloppy Joe” Russell behind bar.
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The Silver Slipper dance hall next to Sloppy Joe's, painted in the 1930s by Waldo Peirce
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The bar, around 1986
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The bar, 2017
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The bar, 2017
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The original location, 2017
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