Historic Hotspot in Key West Commemorates 85th Anniversary
Key West is a great party town with a lot of history. Sloppy Joe’s is an establishment that perfectly highlights both of these qualities that define the city. When most enter the doors at Sloppy Joe’s, they just see the drinks and hear the music. But what many do not realize is that it is an important part of Key West history. On May 5, the famous bar will celebrate its 85th anniversary of being the cornerstone bar at Duval and Greene. In actuality, however, it’s even older than that!
Remember in your high school history class when your teacher talked about Prohibition? I know it sounds crazy, but in the early twentieth century the United States government engaged in a social legislative experiment of sorts. From 1920-1933, the government outlawed alcohol in America. It could not be sold or consumed. As many, I’m sure, expected, plenty of Americans sought ways to get creatively unlawful instead of agreeing to lifelong sobriety. Illicit underground speakeasies popped up all across the country, including Key West. In a small storefront on Front Street, Joe Russell operated one such establishment. By trade, he was a boat captain, turned rumrunner, who used his booty to serve patrons in his hole-in-the-wall illegal bar. One such patron was arguably the most famous ever resident of Key West - Ernest Hemingway. Russell and Hemingway became great friends, and Russell even became his private boat pilot and companion - in addition to being his bartender, of course.?
When prohibition ended in 1933, Russell was happy to make his business legitimate, and he moved into a leased building, and named his bar The Blind Pig, which grew in popularity and reputation. The bar became known as an easy-going, comfortable neighborhood bar. As patrons became increasingly in search of a party vibe, Russell added a dance floor, and re-named it again to The Silver Slipper in honor of the dancehall bar that it was growing into. In 1937, the building owner attempted to raise the rent on Russell, from the $3 per week he had been paying to $4 per week. Russell decided that was not something he was willing to do. Just across the street, on the corner of Duval and Greene, the Victoria Restaurant owned by Juan Farto had recently been vacated. Russell saw the perfect opportunity, and purchased the building for $2,500. Residents of nearby Key West homes, who had become regular patrons, told the very Key West story of the move. Instead of shutting down while moving from one building to another, the patrons grabbed their drinks and chairs and marched across the street, sat down, and carried on. The new Sloppy Joe’s was born. But why “Sloppy Joe’s” instead of The Silver Slipper? Joe’s friend Hemingway joked that the bar was always “sloppy” with dirty, wet floors. Hence, Sloppy Joe’s.
For the past 85 years, Sloppy Joe’s has been at once, a local and tourist favorite. Local residents who live in Key West love the? fact that they can enjoy an entertaining time and walk home. Tourists come for the history, live music, and classic drinks. Key West is a great place to enjoy life and appreciate history - and Sloppy Joe’s has been delivering on both for more than 85 years!