What do you get when a fire-spinning, cocktail-slinging New Yorker brings his bold flavor to the Ozarks? You get Ruthie’s... and you get Joe Pepe. Joy Robertson sits down with Joe, the owner of Ruthie’s Off C-Street, to talk about his wild ride from bartending in the Hamptons to building one of Springfield’s most eclectic and welcoming bar scenes.

From flaming rum flips and barrel-aged cocktails to sweet Thai chili pulled pork made in-house with his son, Joe’s not just serving drinks... he’s serving stories, soul, and serious flavor. With no drink menu, no cover for karaoke, and nothing but good vibes, Ruthie’s is the kind of place you discover once and never forget. You’ll laugh, you’ll crave a cocktail, and you’ll want to pull up a barstool at Ruthie’s by the end of this episode.

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