Historic Joe’s Bar in Boulder Creek is starting to look like the new owners envisioned it when they bought it last June.
Diane Stasser and Gina Trepagnier, who bought the 100-year-old bar that’s been the site of local meetings and movie sets, say the purchase and restoration has been a labor of love.
Trepagnier said she had been a regular at this bar for the past 15 years because it reminded her of the bar in the TV show “Cheers,” with its friendly regulars. When it came up for sale last June, she persuaded her friend, Stasser, to partner with her.
“We have a to-do list that rolls out the door,” Stasser said as a painter was prepping one wall for painting.
Despite both women having full-time jobs — Trepagnier is a mental health professional and Stasser works in the pharmaceutical industry — the bar is open seven days a week, 16 hours a day, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. They have 13 employees who tend to patrons whether they sit at a table or at the 63-foot-long bar that seats 30.
Local lore says the bar came to Boulder Creek “around the Horn” before the Panama Canal was opened in 1914. It is rather unusual in that it has a trough attached at the bottom to half its length. Ask the bartender about that.
In 1992, the movie “Out on a Limb” with Matthew Broderick was filmed in Boulder Creek. They used Joe’s Bar in some scenes but changed the name outside to “Jed’s.” The “Jed’s” sign hangs on a back wall.
The women said the best part of owning the bar is the people in the community who come in regularly and show up for their special events. Joe’s Bar supports Valley Churches United Missions and has had fundraising events such as a pig roast, a Super Bowl potluck and a Christmas party at which they have raised a total of $8,500 for VCUM. Their next big event is the St. Patrick’s Day celebration with profits again going to VCUM.
Joe’s hosts live music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and there are five TV sets to watch sports, politics, or whatever. Thursday night has an 8-ball pool tournament. Free Wi-Fi is available for patrons.
Joe’s Bar is located at 13118 Highway 9 in Boulder Creek. For more information call (831)338.9417 or visit www.joesbc.com.
