Joe's is no Joke

Big Al insists that I am prone to exaggeration, a possible byproduct of working in public relations for over 20 years.

Apparently, only twice in our marriage has my heartfelt endorsement of an eating establishment been on target. The first instance was many years ago when describing the cheese enchiladas at Armando’s Restaurant in Grove as “the best anywhere”. The second recently when we had lunch at Eskimo Joe’s in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Eskimo Joe’s bar and grill is synonymous with Oklahoma State University (OSU). Located only a block from campus, it is popular with students and faculty alike. No doubt many students over the last three decades have spent enough time there to have qualified for an academic minor in “joesology”.

My first apartment at OSU was next door to Joe’s. It was the top floor of an old two-story home that had been divided into apartments. Even with the windows and doors closed it was hard to shut out the sounds of students either free of studies or simply blowing off their responsibilities stopping in for a hamburger and to listen to Blues music.

I’ve often stated that in my mind I still view the world as a young adult, somewhere around 21 – 23 years of age. It was interesting to be in a town that was so influential to me at that pivotal age while at the same time cheering on Sister - at nearly the same stage in her life.

Eskimo Joe's opened July 21, 1975. That same day, sales began for their wildly popular t-shirts, featuring Eskimo Joe and his ever faithful canine companion Buffy. The interior of Joe’s hasn’t changed too much in the 20 years since I was a student. The floors are still wooden; the tables are still tall with high stools. The ceilings are still stamped tin and antique advertising posters and OSU memorabilia remain splashed across the walls.

“This is exactly how I pictured it,” said Big Al, followed by his pronouncement, not entirely unjustified, that I often paint my descriptions with an overzealous verbal paintbrush.
After we ate lunch the boys scanned the Joe’s clothes, each picking out a new Eskimo Joe’s t-shirt that like all twin-clothes at our house, were similar in color, while still maintaining their individual style in design.

They were fascinated reading the “history of Joe’s” and curious how two guys could open a little burger joint that would turn into the Eskimo Joe’s phenomenon it has become. I think the answer is that they were enthusiastic, used teamwork to their advantage, and never once thought about failure.

I’m always reading something new, this week it is the inspirational book “You Can’t Send a Duck to Eagle School.” It is all about finding what your good at and sticking to it. Also, for managers it provides lessons in picking the right people for the job. Good customer service, full of enthusiasm, is a skill that not everyone is good at but it's what's made Joe's famous.