Key West Florida Weekly

BARTENDER OF THE WEEK

Jordan Springer – Getting sloppy was in the stars



 

 

Even though he had never set foot here until 2013, Jordan Springer’s inevitable fore-ordination to Key West may have been sealed by serendipity long before he was even born, which was way across the country, in the garlic capitol of the world, Gilroy, Calif. A short year later, he and his family were off to Boise, Idaho until he was 4, only then to move once again to Sidney, Ohio, where he grew up, remaining there until he was 23. And yet, his fate was inevitably already bound to this island. How? Time for a fairytale.

Once upon a time (in 1983), there was a girl named Lynne, who taught school at Gerald Adams Elementary in Key West. A nice fellow named Steve came to Key West on vacation and a mutual friend of theirs, Greg, set them up on a blind date. Long fairytale short, they recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary together. In 2009, they returned to the magical place where it all began, and bought a place, where “they’ve been snowbirds ever since.” They have three children: Jenny, who lives in San Francisco; Stephanie, who lives in Ohio; and Jordan, the baby of the family, who bartends at Sloppy Joe’s Bar here in Key West. “I came here for the first time in March, 2013, then two months later, I moved here.” That’s what you call a fortunate happenstance, come full circle.

Before he moved down, Jordan graduated from Ohio State University in 2012 with a degree in economics, and worked in a staffing agency for a year. “Then a new manager came in and fired 90 percent of the staff.” That was just the inspiration and kick in the butt he needed.

He had bar-backed a bit in college, but when he arrived here on the island, he took his first job in Key West at Sloppy Joe’s as security. After six months, he started bartending part-time while still doing security, and six months after that, he became a full-time bartender at one of the most famous bars in the world. “It’s the only place in Key West I’ve ever worked.”

To look at his baby face, you might think he was too young to even drink, but Jordan’s delightful personality makes him a favorite of both guests and fellow employees. You can often find him at the back bar, Joe’s Tap Room, facing Greene Street.

“I enjoy everything about Key West,” he said. “Roaming around on Duval, going to events, plays and shows. I keep a kayak at my parents’ house up by Cow Key Channel. I like to get out on a boat any time I can, and spend time doing stuff with my girlfriend.” His girlfriend, Cassidy, a Key West Conch (born here on the island) works at the Southernmost Mansion. “We’re planning on doing some traveling, Denver, San Francisco, the Caribbean. San Diego for my reunion. I travel mostly to go to weddings.”

Jordan has a 6-year-old mutt named Loomis. “I brought him here from the Franklin County Dog Shelter in Columbus. He was the pound special.”

Although he says his schedule changes every week (which he enjoys) you can find him behind the main bar at Sloppy Joe’s every Tuesday night. He’s there five nights a week, so chances are pretty good that you’ll see him. He’s taller than most.

“There’s really two things I love most about living and working here in Key West,” he said. “Of course, the weather is amazing. I’m a huge baby when it comes to the cold. But also, it’s a big family here. Maybe not related to you, but it feels like family, like brothers, sisters, and cousins.” ¦

Sloppy Joes Bar 201 Duval St. www.sloppyjoes.com


 

 

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