Tenderloin in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Original Joe's

Uptown Tenderloin Lost Landmarks

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 15, 2015

1. Original Joe's Marker

Inscription. 1937 - 2007
Established in 1937 by Tony Rodin, Original Joe's served hearty Italian food to over 8 million customers for the next six decades. Known for an open door policy, the legendary restaurant fed the rich and poor alike. Family members continued the culinary legacy here until a 2007 fire destoyed the building's interior.

Erected by Uptown Tenderloin Historic District.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings.

Location. 37° 47.033′ N, 122° 24.651′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Tenderloin. It can be reached from Eddy Street. Embedded in the sidewalk. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 144 Taylor Street, San Francisco CA 94102, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on California’s Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Warfield Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); B'nai Brith (within shouting distance of this marker); Compton's Cafeteria Riot - 1966 (within shouting distance of this marker); Hotel Drake (within shouting distance of this marker); Gene Compton's Cafeteria Riot 1966 (within shouting distance of this marker); West Hotel

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(about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dahlia Hotel (about 300 feet away); The Bulldog Baths (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

Also see . . . Lost Landmarks. This marker is one of 9 Lost Landmark sidewalk plaques authorized by the Board of Supervisors on September 6, 2011. “These ‘Lost Landmark’ sites will greatly illuminate the forgotten history of these San Francisco sites of historic significance; now, therefore be it.” (Submitted on December 23, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 15, 2015

2. Original Joe's Marker

144 Taylor Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 15, 2015

3. 144 Taylor Street

The 37 room reinforced concrete building that housed Original Joe's was built in 1910 by engineer A. Knelling. It was the Beverly Hotel and later the Modern Hotel. It sported a neon blade sign reading “Original Joe's. Fine Italian Food”, a neon marquee reading “Original Joe's” and a blade sign reading “Cool Discount”. Original Joe's has reopened at 601 Union Street.Today 144 is PianoFight, “SF's Next Landmark Entertainment Venue.”

Original Joe's<br>Italian Foods image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 16, 2015

4. Original Joe's
Italian Foods

Recovered mural sign on neighboring building.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 22, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 831 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 22, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.