Joe Tucker, owner of Tucker's Restaurant, has died

Joe Tucker, who – along with his wife, Carla – ran Tucker's Restaurant in Over-the-Rhine, died Sunday night at the age of 66.

According to family spokesperson Chris Heckman, Tucker died of natural causes.

Tucker's Restaurant was a mainstay institution in Over-the-Rhine for nearly 80 years. It was opened in 1946 by Joe Tucker's parents, Escom Garth ("E.G.") and Maynie Tucker, and originally served neighborhood residents, many of them of Appalachian descent, who worked in the neighborhood's factories. The family opened other Tucker's locations in Downtown and Over-the-Rhine in subsequent years, but the last location, at 1637 Vine St., closed soon after the pandemic.

In recent years, Joe Tucker spent his time cooking for the friars at Saint Francis Seraph Catholic Church, in Over-the-Rhine, and working shifts at the On-the-Rhine Eatery inside the downtown Kroger.

Joe and Carla Tucker were known for providing affordable food in a neighborhood where many struggled to make ends meet. That included giving away meals to those who could not afford it. "It was in their nature to take care of people," Heckman said. "That is part of their legacy. They just always wanted to help."

Joe Tucker could usually be found behind the counter, frying up eggs, goetta and omelets on his flat-top grill in a black T-shirt and tattered Bengals hat. He loved talking local sports and politics. So much so that many flocked to the diner just to hear his opinions on the day's news. His customers included everyone – from politicians and CEOs to corner kids and the unhoused. He was known for treating all of them with both dignity and compassion.

Joe Tucker is survived by his wife, Carla, and daughter, Katie Cappel. Information about other survivors was not immediately available. A full obituary and remembrance of Tucker is forthcoming.

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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Joe Tucker, owner of Tucker's Restaurant, has died