WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA – Original Joe’s, the classic and much-loved San Francisco Italian-American restaurant, is finally about to launch–after a few false starts–here in Walnut Creek.
Locals in the 925 have been buzzing about this for over two years, and the excitement about the opening is reaching a fever-pitch as an impending grand opening looks closer and closer.
Sources have also given us some info on the likely opening timeline. More on that below!
For now, though, let’s take a look at everything we know about the upcoming Original Joes Walnut Creek.
After several proposed opening dates and some delays, the Walnut Creek Original Joe’s now appears tantalizingly close to launching at last. This will be Original Joe’s first expansion into the East Bay in its 87-year history, bringing a beloved dining institution to a whole new community.
This week, a reader sent in a photo of signage going up at Original Joe’s. We stopped by and confirmed that the gigantic, neon-lit sign from the original renderings of the restaurant is actually there in real life!
The Long-Awaited East Bay Debut
Original Joe’s has long been considered a San Francisco institution, known for its classic Italian-American fare and old-school charm.
Founded in 1937 by Croatian immigrant Tony Rodin as a 14-stool counter on Taylor Street, the restaurant became famous for hearty portions and an open kitchen where patrons could watch the chefs at work.
Over the decades it expanded to a second location in Daly City’s Westlake (opened 1956) and rebuilt its San Francisco flagship in North Beach after a 2007 fire. The business remains family-run to this day – now in its third generation under the Duggan family, who emphasize a tradition of warm hospitality and “comfort-driven” food.
(There’s also a separate Original Joe’s in San Jose, which opened in 1956 and is under different ownership, but the Walnut Creek outpost will be part of the SF-based group.)
Bringing such a storied restaurant to Walnut Creek is a big deal for local food lovers. The Duggans have been deliberate in choosing Walnut Creek as their next location.
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They scouted the Broadway Plaza shopping district and immediately felt that the busy corner space at South Main Street and Broadway Plaza (right across from Macy’s) “was born to be a Joe’s,” co-owner John Duggan told SFGate.
With Broadway Plaza drawing an estimated 6 million visitors a year, and Walnut Creek emerging as a hotspot for restaurants, the family saw this city as the perfect place to carry on Original Joe’s legacy.
Little wonder there’s so much excitement – East Bay residents who used to drive into the city for a plate of OJ’s famous eggplant parmigiana or a charbroiled steak will soon be able to get their fix closer to home.
From Stanford’s to Joe’s: Construction and Delays
The Walnut Creek Original Joe’s is taking over the building at 1300 S. Main Street, which diners might remember as the old Stanford’s Restaurant & Bar. Stanford’s operated there for over twenty years before closing in mid-2019, leaving a prime free-standing restaurant space vacant at the edge of Broadway Plaza.
Rather than simply moving in and changing the sign, Original Joe’s undertook a major reconstruction of the site. The design plans (approved by the city in late 2023) called for essentially gutting and rebuilding the interior, adding a new 1,650 sq. ft. second-floor kitchen, installing all-new doors and windows, creating outdoor dining areas, and updating the color scheme and signage, permits show.
In short, this is no minor facelift.
Work at the site has been active through 2024 and 2025. By April 2025, anyone peeking through the construction fencing would have seen a flurry of activity: contractors consulting blueprints, carpenters assembling massive wooden trellises for the patio, and lots of scaffolding and equipment filling the interior.
Freshly poured concrete and exposed wood were still visible, and landscaping was yet to be added – clear signs that there was substantial work left to finish as of spring. Indeed, the Original Joe’s team quietly pushed back their timeline.
Initially they had hoped to open by April or May 2025, but as that target approached it became evident that more time was needed. By early April, a company representative confirmed the opening date was still “TBC” (to be confirmed). Insiders estimated at that point it might be at least a couple more months before doors could open.
Fast forward to midsummer 2025, and the project seems to be finally nearing completion. The roughly 9,000-square-foot, 300-seat restaurant behemoth that Original Joe’s has built in Walnut Creek is almost ready to roar to life.
In recent weeks, onlookers have spotted promising signs: again, the Original Joe’s signage went up on the building (reportedly undergoing some test-fitting or permitting adjustments), and activity has been seen inside.
Here’s an exclusive video we took of the restaurant in late July 2025:
Original Joe’s social media posts in July teased a glimpse of the Walnut Creek interior, showing a line of chefs in crisp white coats training in the gleaming new open kitchen. In that sneak peek, plates of the restaurant’s signature dishes were arrayed on the counter, ready for tasting – a strong hint that staff hiring and menu run-throughs were in full swing.
Projected Opening Date (Finally!)
So, when will Original Joe’s Walnut Creek finally open? As of now, we’re on the cusp. Officially, the company has been coy about pinning down an exact date – even in late July, a spokesperson would only tell us at the Bay Area Telegraph, “We don’t have a set opening date yet for Walnut Creek”
However, all signs point to an imminent debut. A source told us yesterday that Original Joe’s is likely to open “within a few weeks.”
With the interior essentially finished and the team trained up, it’s expected that doors will open early August 2025 (just in time to catch the summer dining crowds). The restaurant appears to be putting finishing touches on its landscaping and interior, and perhaps awaiting permits.
Original Joe’s has promised to let us at the Bay Area Telegraph know the moment the grand opening is scheduled– and given the community’s eager anticipation, you can bet that news will spread like wildfire the second it’s announced. Make sure you’re on our newsletter so we can let you know when we hear.
What’s on the Menu: Classic Joe’s Fare
If you’ve never eaten at an Original Joe’s, you might be wondering what all the fuss is about. What kind of food can you expect? The short answer: old-school Italian-American comfort food, done really well.
Original Joe’s menu is famed for its generous portions of meat, pasta, and seafood specialties, prepared in an exhibition kitchen for all to see. The restaurant prides itself on “abundant portions” and a “comfortable familiarity” – the feeling that you’ve been there before, even on your first visit.
Many of the recipes are decades-old classics. For example, the Joe’s Special (a hearty scramble of eggs, spinach, ground beef and spices) was popularized by Original Joe’s and has been on the menu since the very beginning. It’s a simple dish, but one that carries a bit of San Francisco history on the plate.
The Walnut Creek location will likely carry on the tradition with all the signature items fans know and love. One hallmark dish to look forward to is Joe’s Eggplant Parmigiana – slices of eggplant breaded and baked with cheese and sauce – which has long been a favorite at the San Francisco restaurant.
Carnivores will be pleased to see charbroiled steaks and chops (lamb chops with salsa verde, anyone?) and the famous Original Joe’s hamburger served on a French baguette with grilled onions. That iconic burger has been on Original Joe’s menu unchanged since 1937, and it’s a must-try for first-timers.
You’ll also find classic pasta dishes like spaghetti and ravioli with rich tomato sauce, hearty lasagna, and chicken Milanese (lightly breaded chicken cutlet with a mound of arugula on top) for a taste of old-world Italian-American cuisine. Seafood lovers can enjoy dishes such as petrale sole or cioppino when in season, and the nightly specials often include prime rib or fresh fish.
One thing Original Joe’s is known for is consistency. The menu doesn’t chase trends; it sticks to nostalgic favorites and executes them reliably. Many patrons have go-to items they order every time.
Portions of everything are famously large – an entrée at Joe’s often guarantees you’ll be taking leftovers home. And to wash it all down, the full bar will be shaking up classic cocktails (think martinis, Manhattans, Negronis) to complete the throwback supper-club vibe.
In short, Walnut Creek diners can expect the full Original Joe’s experience: from the leather booths and counter seating, to the open grill sizzling with steaks, to the friendly career waiters in white jackets, and that feeling of being transported to a mid-century dinner house. It’s the kind of place where multi-generational families go for celebrations, yet you can also drop in solo at the counter for a quick bite and feel right at home.
Local Buzz and Final Tidbits
It’s no exaggeration to say that anticipation is off the charts for Original Joe’s Walnut Creek. When the restaurant’s Instagram account posted a photo of the new Walnut Creek kitchen team in action, it racked up nearly a thousand likes almost immediately.
Dozens of locals have been flooding the comments with one burning question: “When are you opening?!” The Bay Area Telegraph’s own readers have been emailing and messaging us with sightings and rumors–even pleas to help them get a table!
Another reader reported that staff training was underway in early July, which we now know to be true. Clearly, no one is waiting patiently. This kind of fervent buzz is rare, and it speaks to the strong nostalgic following Original Joe’s has in the Bay Area.
As Walnut Creek prepares to welcome Original Joe’s, it’s worth noting how this fits into the city’s dining scene. Broadway Plaza and the downtown area have seen a wave of new restaurants in recent years, from upscale chains to homegrown eateries.
Some longtime fixtures (like P.F. Chang’s and California Pizza Kitchen) have closed, making room for fresh arrivals. Original Joe’s is arguably the most high-profile newcomer yet – a big, 300-seat anchor that will likely draw foodies from all over the East Bay and beyond.
