Cozy leather booths. Waiters in tuxedos. Massive portions of Italian-American food. A wide smile on every diner’s face. Welcome to Original Joe’s. Though initially established in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco in 1937, Original Joe’s opened a second and third location in 1956—in Daly City and San Jose.

Wanting to bring the big city, fine-dining experience to the South Bay, the four partners (Louis J. Rocca, Louis J. Rocca, Jr., Arthur Tortore and Anthony Caramagno) built a restaurant that to this day remains a cornerstone of San Jose’s rapidly evolving downtown.