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Our T-shirts are probably in every country of the world by now.Deep-sea surprise: Taiwanese divers encounter rare giant oarfish Why Key West? But it’s one that’s internationally known. “It’s such a dichotomy, because to us, we’re all a family, the staff, the owners and it’s a family-run business. “They’ll look at me with wide eyes, and ask, ‘How do I run tabs for these guys? I don’t know who’s who,’” MacMackin said.Ĭharles Fraga, who’s been a barback at Sloppy Joe’s for 20 years, summed up the place nicely. The staff fondly recalls their favorite Hemingway Look Alikes, and chuckle at the newer employees who can’t tell any of them apart. “Our staff has made friends from all over the world who come back year after year,” Haddrell said. “I remember dancing on the bar one night with a bottle of Jack and I don’t even drink,” LaMattina said.īut beyond the wild times, there’s been an unending sense of friendship and camaraderie for decades. each day,” MacMacken said., “We had the cocaine cowboys who hadn’t been to bed and the early daytime drinkers who would stop in before work.” “We used to have quite a crew that came in whenever we would open at 9 a.m. “Trust me, there were no salads on the menu back then.” Table service with actual food didn’t start until 1998,” LaMattina said. “Bob and Lucy, who eventually created Bobalu’s on Big Coppitt, used to sell fried bologna sandwiches out of a window up front. MacMackin and Crawl recalled the days before Sloppy Joe’s had its own kitchen and food service. “I’m one of the people who grew up here in Sloppy Joe’s, and I just hope I get out alive,” said Beverly Haddrell, who joined the staff in 1995, 27 years ago. Beverly Haddrell, Julie LaMattina, Charles Fraga, Kit Crowl and Reta MacMackin recall some famous and infamous stories at Key West’s legendary Sloppy Joe’s. Similarly, Reta MacMackin has worked there 35 years and Julie LaMattina is right behind at 34 years. We raised our kids together, you name it. A lot of us really grew up in this place.
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“But the two families that own this place make us all feel like a family. “There’s a lot that can’t be said to protect the innocent - and the guilty,” said Kit Crowl, who has been a server at Sloppy’s for 42 years. The Keys Weekly recently spent a morning with some of the bar’s longest-serving employees, who were eager to share some of the thousands of stories and memories the bar has prompted. “For 365 days a year we strive to give our customers the best party in town with live music on stage, great drinks, food and an awesome Sloppy Joe’s experience.” “Each of us working here have a tremendous responsibility to continue the traditions of Sloppy Joe’s,” said Donna Edwards, brand manager for Sloppy Joe’s. While its history is older than 85 years, Sloppy Joe’s will celebrate 85 years at the corner of Duval and Greene on May 5, 2022. Jean Klausing signed on as general manager in 1978 and remained GM emeritus until his death in January 2009. 8,1978 and the bar still remains with the two families.
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Sid Snelgrove and Jim Mayer purchased Sloppy Joe’s on Sept. Russell, a native Key West Conch who was a rumrunner and charter fishing captain before he was a bar owner, died of a heart attack in 1941 at the age of 53, but the bar and its legend continued. The new Sloppy Joe’s boasted the longest bar in town.
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