Question for the Prez or Punch Joe.

[laficion]

Does anyone have any info on the reopening of the famous and historic

Havana landmark that was " Sloppy Joe's Bar ".

Last I was in Havana in 2007, they were cleaning the building and reconstructing the

bar to It's former glory. they said that they would take their time and that , the place,

would look like the same as in the old days when all the stars and celebrities came to

to have a drink and eat a bite in this famous bar. The Bar was to open in the spring of

2008 and be a joint venture with the new PARK CENTRAL Hotel that was being built along side

the old Bar. My question goes out to you Rob, have you heard about this during your stay ?

OR , Have you, Punch Joe, heard anything on this ?

Here are a few pics of the old bar. It was also used as a location, in 1959, for the filming of

"Our man in Havana".

Thanks in advance.

[El Presidente]

I haven't heard anything but I will find out for you. Give me a day or so as I have e-mailed Toby.

[Ken Gargett]

i have looked in the past and tried to find out about this but got nowhere and no one semed to have a clue. be grea if it was true.

[laficion]

I haven't heard anything but I will find out for you. Give me a day or so as I have e-mailed Toby.

Thank you Rob AND Toby.

On the other hand, I find It quit surprising that no news on the matter has come out.

Sloppy Joe's Bar was so well known around the world, even more then La Bodeguita Del Medio.

The only thing that I can think about could be a Trademark problem with the other Sloppy Joe's

in Florida, but then again, the one in Havana was the original.

[Jimmy2]

All that history gone its a shame

[Ken Gargett]

[quote name='laficion'

The only thing that I can think about could be a Trademark problem with the other Sloppy Joe's

in Florida, but then again, the one in Havana was the original.

given the manner in which cuban icon cigar brands have been pirated around the globe, and especially though without wishing to point fingers, in the usa, hard to see havana being too worried about offending anyone. we have noticed that when a building is being repaired in havana, it takes ages. we could watch the progression over several years. perhaps they have decided to revive things and it is just working on 'cuban' time.

[Colt45]

given the manner in which cuban icon cigar brands have been pirated around the globe, and especially though without wishing to point fingers, in the usa,

Other than cohiba and perhaps trinidad, do you mean the marques that were taken from their rightful owners by the despot, or

are there others that I am unaware of?

And for what it's worth, the original key west sloppy joe's (not necessarily in name), which is now named captain tony's, was established

as a bar in the mid 1800s. I don't know the history of the havana sloppy joe's.

[El Presidente]

Other than cohiba and perhaps trinidad, do you mean the marques that were taken from their rightful owners by the despot, or

are there others that I am unaware of?

Vegas Robaina was stolen by a ponce in NY. That one particularly hurt DA.

San Cristobal was another I understand.

[Ken Gargett]

Other than cohiba and perhaps trinidad, do you mean the marques that were taken from their rightful owners by the despot, or

are there others that I am unaware of?

And for what it's worth, the original key west sloppy joe's (not necessarily in name), which is now named captain tony's, was established

as a bar in the mid 1800s. I don't know the history of the havana sloppy joe's.

well, won't you be a bundle of joy come the dismantling of the embargo!

i am very much NOT a fan of nationalisation in any form (though i could see an argument for a very brief period with some of your, and our, financial institutions to beat the crap out of some of the management who have bled vast amounts of money, in some cases, and caused us all years of mess) so don't disagree with your point, but it would be a very interesting argument (which will probably, sadly, be avoided by backroom deals - i for one, would love to see the arguments of both sides and ultimate decision) from a legal aspect and i suspect, far from as cut and dried, as you may think (though that may very much depend on where it was heard).

my point was more that, rightly or wrongly, the cubans would have seen their icons abused (at least in their minds) and copied and hence are probably not going to feel too much remorse in using whatever names as they see fit.

[laficion]

And for what it's worth, the original key west sloppy joe's (not necessarily in name), which is now named captain tony's, was established

as a bar in the mid 1800s. I don't know the history of the havana sloppy joe's.

Well, on my side, here is a short story on the history of Sloppy Joe's for Colt.

It was fun looking it up. Thanks Colt, You got me wondering who was the first to use the

name and finally, It was Sloppy Joe's in Havana the original one. Here is some info that

I gathered. Hope you enjoy

SLOPPY JOE'S HAVANA

Short Biography: Mr. Jose Abeal (Sloppy Joe) came from Spain to Cuba in the year 1904 and went to work as a bartender on Galiano and Zanja Streets Havana, where he worked for three years, and then, he gave up his job and sailed for New-Orleans, La. In this city he went on working as a bartender for six years. From New Orleans he went to Miami, Fla., and also worked in different bars for another six years. In the year 1918, he returned to Havana and got a job as bartender at a cafe named "Greasy Spoon" and six months after, he decided to go in business for himself and bought what was then an insignificant grocery store at the corner now occupied by the famous Sloppy Joe's Bar. While operating this small grocery store, he was visited by several friends from the States. It so happened, that while some of them were visiting him and seeing the poor condition of the place, one of them said, "Why, Joe, this place is certainly sloppy, look at the filthy water running from under the counter." From then on, the name, Sloppy Joe stuck to Jose Abeal as part of his own life and was destined to make him and his business famous and internationally known. Now gone since Castro and his revolution, but you can still see the pavement mosaic outside, the glorious old Bacardi building. Maybe someday, we can all meet again for a Cuba Libre (Free Cuba) and belly up at Sloppy Joes, Havana.

Early 1920s souvenir photo from the famous Sloppy Joe's Bar in Havana.

SLOPPY JOE'S KEY WEST FL.

Sloppy Joe's Bar was born on December 5, 1933, the day prohibition ended. The bar was destined to go through two name changes and a sudden change of location before it would become today's Sloppy Joe's Bar.

Joe Russell was the original proprietor and the bar was then named the Blind Pig located in a rundown building that Russell leased for three dollars a week. Updo the addition of a dance floor, the name was changed to the Silver Slipper. The bar was a place of shabby discomfort, good friends, gambling, fifteen-cent whiskey, and ten-cent shots of gin.

It was suggested by Ernest Hemingway, a favorite patron of Russell's bar from the start, to change the bar name to Sloppy Joe's. The new name was adopted from Jose Garcia's Rio Havana Club

Sloppy Joe's in Key West

[Jay Hemingway]

Here are a few pics of the old bar. It was also used as a location, in 1959, for the filming of

"Our man in Havana".

oh wow, that's funny!

i couldn't sleep the other night so i was flipping through the channels and that movie "our man in havana" came on.

i watched the whole thing and i was so interested in the location and settings.

there is a part in the movie where the main character is asked to come down to the police station to be asked some questions. inside of the police station he sits inside Capt. Segura's office to be interegated. right behind the Capt's desk there is a nice stack of habanos boxes, a few partagas boxes and what i believe may have been a box of romeo y julietas.

i really liked that movie and this is the first i have heard of it being spoken about.

i remember clearly that he went downstairs to this bar everyday in the movie.

[laficion]

I haven't heard anything but I will find out for you. Give me a day or so as I have e-mailed Toby.

Rob, Have you recieved any news from Toby yet on this matter ?

Thanks