Jo Ann Weiss Sawitz Bass, the longtime CEO and matriarch of Miami's iconic Joe's Stone Crab restaurant, has died at the age of 94. She passed away on Saturday while receiving end-of-life care at her Miami Beach home, located directly across from the family restaurant.
Her family announced her death on social media, describing her as 'more than the CEO, matriarch, visionary, brand guardian and head tastemaker of Joe's Stone Crab. She was mom.' The restaurant was founded by her grandfather, Joe Weiss, in 1913, making it two years older than the city of Miami itself.
Bass worked at the restaurant as a teenager before taking time off to raise her children. She later returned to take over the business after the death of her father, Jesse. Under her leadership, Joe's Stone Crab became a favourite among A-list celebrities including Frank Sinatra, Muhammad Ali, Leonardo DiCaprio, Elizabeth Taylor, and Barbra Streisand.
Known for its signature stone crab dish, the restaurant also offers popular items such as key lime pie, creamed spinach, and grilled tomatoes. Fans have praised Bass for keeping prices affordable, particularly the fried chicken, which costs less than $9. Axios reporter Marc Caputo noted, 'Jo Ann Bass kept the price low because she believed everyone should be able to enjoy the Joe’s experience.'
In a 2012 interview, Bass said the restaurant was 'in her blood,' adding, 'I love it. The whole place, it’s my family, it’s my security blanket… it’s Joe’s.' Her family concluded their statement by saying, 'Hers was a life well lived, one worth celebrating and emulating.'
