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ORAL HISTORY
Joe Larson
Joe Larson, born in 1956, was raised in Peekskill, New York. In 1971, Larson’s family moved to New York City. Larson’s initial foray into a career in food and beverage began with a summer job as a dishwasher at Bonanza, a steakhouse chain restaurant. While attending college at Georgia State University, Larson worked as a server at Steak and Ale, picking up lunch and dinner shifts in between classes. After graduating with a degree in studio arts from Georgia State, he continued to wait tables.
A friend encouraged him to apply for a job at Bone’s Steakhouse and in 1986, Larson became a waiter’s assistant then eventually a waiter. Larson has also worked as the downstairs bartender. Larson enjoys the flexibility and variety that the service industry affords him. He thinks a lot about the way he likes to be treated when serving his guests.
