HISTORY
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HOBO JOE How Buckeye became home to Arizona’s strangest giant STAFF REPORT I F YOU’VE DRIVEN DOWN MONROE AVENUE in the heart of downtown Buckeye, chances are you’ve spotted him: a towering, 25-foot-tall statue of a scruffy hobo in patched clothes, offering a friendly wave to traffic. He’s hard to miss — and even harder to explain. To longtime locals, he’s simply Hobo Joe. To newcomers, he’s a roadside mystery. But behind the weathered smile and worn-out boots lies a tale that stretches from the heyday of Phoenix diners to the heart of Buckeye’s sense of quirky pride. This is the story of how a fiberglass drifter found a permanent home in one of America’s fastest-growing cities — and why he matters more than you might think. The origins of Hobo Joe Hobo Joe began life not in Buckeye, but in Phoenix. In the mid-1960s, Herb Applegate, a Detroit transplant, partnered with others to create a new kind of coffee shop. In 1965, they launched the Hobo Joe’s restaurant chain, which quickly grew to several locations throughout the Valley. The branding leaned into Americana kitsch. Hobo Joe was the chain’s cartoonish mascot — a well-traveled, big-hearted vagabond who had supposedly chosen a carefree life of train- hopping, storytelling and, of course, a love for hearty meals. In promotional materials, he was described as a “World Traveler, Philosopher and Connoisseur of Good Food.” Despite the goofy premise, the chain built a loyal customer base with its big breakfasts, casual feel and down-home prices. As part of the restaurant’s visual identity, artist Jim Casey, a former Disney animator, was commissioned to sculpt a version of Hobo Joe in clay. This would be cast into large fiberglass statues that could greet guests outside the restaurants. The work was completed by Phoenix-based fabricator Marvin Ransdell, who created several versions — including at least two full-size giants over 20 feet tall.
Harrison D. Fryberg, DDS
• Full Arch Implant Reconstruction • Dental Implants • Wisdom Teeth Removal • Extractions • Bone Grafting • Soft Tissue Grafting for Implants • Impacted Teeth • Pre-Prosthetic Surgery • Pathology / Biopsy • IV Sedation / General Anesthesia
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InBuckeye.com | November 2025
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