Designed by former Walt Disney Company Animator, Jim Casey, Hobo Joe was the face behind a chain of coffee shops bearing his name.

Originating right here in Arizona by Herb Applegate in 1965, the chain grew to eight locations throughout the Phoenix Metro Area before closing in the late 1980’s.

Fiberglass molding craftsman, Marvin Ransdell was commissioned to make the casting molds needed to build booths and statues for Hobo Joe restaurants throughout the Valley. Creating a mold from Jim Casey’s sculpture, Marvin cast 2 large Hobo’s including our 25 foot statue which now proudly overlooks Main Street in Downtown Buckeye. After casting, Jim Casey’s girlfriend, Elaine Polley completed the work by lending here artistic talents to the task of painting the statues.

Due to a series of events, Buckeye’s Hobo Joe stayed with Marvin who later gifted the large sculpture to his good friend Ramon Gillum in 1989. The rest is history…