Summary
- In
Anatomy of Grey
Joe the bartender was a fountain of wisdom at the Emerald City Bar to combat the stress of the Grey Sloan doctors. - In the early seasons of Grey's Anatomy, she had impactful storylines and deep bonds with her cast members.
- Despite an impromptu exit in season seven, Joe's presence remains significant in the series' lore.
Anatomy of Grey is often criticized for its shifting approach to characters. Some fans believe that as soon as a new character starts making moves at Grey Sloan, they are quickly written out of the show and shipped off elsewhere. However, that isn’t always the case, as major characters like Meredith Grey, Richard Burke, and Miranda Bailey have been with the show since the very first episode. But the medical drama has lost a plethora of impactful characters along the way. Sure, that doesn’t stop fans from tuning in every week, but it does suggest that the writers don’t have the ability to develop each character to the same degree as some of the more important cast members.
A great example of how Anatomy of Grey tends to eliminate characters without a trace, as seen in Joe the Bartender. While this sweet, wise man usually stayed out of the hospital drama, he and his bar were integral parts of many monumental storylines. Yet, in season 7, the character was written out of the show and hasn't returned since. So what happened to Joe and why is his disappearance so intriguing for Anatomy of Grey fans?
Joe has been subtly a part of some of Grey's Anatomy's best moments.
- The authors of Anatomy of Grey He created a blog detailing Joe's observations of Grey Sloan.
- In season 1 episode 8, “Save Me”, the actor who plays Joe, Steven W. Bailey, can be seen as an anesthesiologist.
- His favorite TV show is Three hearts for rent.

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After a hard day of saving lives and dealing with their latest love triangle, the Grey Sloan team often retreats to the Emerald City Bar, which is located across the street from the hospital. Although at first glance this establishment seems like nothing more than a typical dive bar, it is run by the kind and beloved Joe. In addition to serving them drinks and bar snacks, Joe tends to build a charming friendship with each of the doctors. This bartender is not a main character by any means, but it could be argued that he fills the same role as Gunther from Friends or Larry from Seinfeld: a sympathetic figure who helps the cast recharge after a difficult day at work.
Just because Joe the bartender is considered a minor cast member doesn't mean he isn't involved in a lot of impactful storylines. For example, in season 3, episode 1, “Time Has Come Today,” Derek and Meredith enjoy their first date at the Emerald City Bar and are served by Joe. Now, it would be wrong to say that Joe is the reason this relationship was able to blossom, but the fact that he is a major part of their impersonal first meeting just highlights how important Joe's bar is to Anatomy of Greyy universe. Furthermore, it should be mentioned that this meeting is shown via a flashback sequence, which indicates that Joe is a memorable part of Meredith and Derek's first date. Thus, one could argue that Joe is a substantial driving force behind one of the Anatomy of Grey more whole couples.
Even though Joe left the show in season 7, the Emerald City Bar is still used as a backdrop for important events in later seasons. In season 18, episode 1, “Here Comes the Sun,” Teddy and Owen get married at Joe's Bar after their initial ceremony is ruined by a serious bike accident. Again, this is a great example of how the Emerald City Bar is much more than a drinking establishment for these doctors; it actually symbolizes the personal memories they share as friends. So, Joe the bartender may not be on the front lines of the action or helping out in the operating room, but his presence throughout the show means that the Grey Sloan team sees him as a unique part of their working lives.
Joe is a fountain of wisdom for many doctors
The 5 Most Popular Episodes of Joe the Bartender
- Season 2, Episode 15, “Break on Through”
- Season 3, Episode 7, “Where Are the Boys”
- Season 3, Episode 24, “Test 1-2-3”
- Season 6, Episode 15, “The Time Warp”
- Season 7, Episode 9, “Slow Night, So Long”

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Even though fans don't even know what Joe's last name is, they're well aware of his inviting sense of wisdom.. He is also forced to be the voice of reason at times, especially when tensions arise, proving that just because these people are doctors doesn't mean they have emotional intelligence. For example, in season 2, episode 15, “Break on Through,” Joe breaks up a fight between one of the nurses and Cristina Yang. In the real world, any self-respecting bartender would have those women banned before they could even start a fight. However, because Joe is simply a Grey Sloan fan and often empathizes with the kind of stress these doctors are under, he tends to keep the peace. As such, one could argue that the Emerald City Bar is a safe haven and Joe is a sort of gatekeeper. As the doctors' stress levels build up throughout their day at the hospital, as soon as they interact with Joe, they can relax. This is also a good technique in terms of plot development. The confines of the hospital are almost like a pressure cooker, which increases the tension for the audience. However, Joe and his kind heart give fans a break from the constant stress and allow them to enjoy the soap opera elements of this popular medical drama.
Joe also has to shoulder the baggage of other people's problems, which allows him to be a guiding light when the Grey Sloan team is at its worst. In Season 6, Episode 10, “Holidaze,” Joe supports Richard after he starts drinking again and quickly becomes too drunk for his own good. Instead of confronting him in a state of deep vulnerability or shaming him for falling off the wagon, he calls on Meredith to help him. When Grey arrived at the bar, Joe explained that he didn't know what else to do and that he thought it was best to have another member of the hospital help Richard get home. Joe's kind and compassionate nature at this point indicates that his relationship with the hospital workers isn't based on cronyism but on true friendship. So even when one of them ends up drunk and disorderly at the nearest bar, the doctors find peace in the fact that Joe would never willingly let anything bad happen to any of them.
Joe's sudden departure was ignored even by the most ardent fans
- In 2003, Joe sported a long mane of hair, similar to Meredith's.
- He is a die-hard Seattle Seahawks fan.
- His favorite dish is spicy buffalo wings.

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After five years of being a staffer at Grey Sloan, Joe made his final appearance in Season 7, Episode 9, “Slow Night, So Long.” In this episode, Joe trains Cristina to be a bartender, and it seems like the Emerald City Bar is filled with a jovial friendship of sorts. Yet, after this episode, he was never seen again. While many fans speculate about what happened to this character, his departure from the show was actually much less dramatic. While Steven W. Bailey enjoyed his time on the show, the writers struggled to fit him into subsequent storylines and negotiate his contract. Thus, Joe was simply written out of the show along with his husband, Walter, and their twin daughters.
Despite the loss of a rather significant character, many fans didn't bat an eyelid when he first left. Yet, the Emerald City bar has appeared in more Anatomy of Grey spin-offs like Private studio AND Station 19. So, as fans started reminiscing about the good old days at the bar, they began to wonder what happened to Joe. While some viewers felt it was deeply unfair to cut Joe from the franchise without a good explanation, it makes sense in a broader sense. Anatomy of Grey universe. When Joe passed away in 2010, Private studio was a well-established procedural in its own right and was enjoying multiple crossovers with its predecessor. As the writers continued to tie these shows together, it seemed strange that these characters kept returning to their old drinking spots, especially when the characters seemed to have no time for themselves outside of work.
Yet, Joe the Barista is still a key part of Anatomy of Greyespecially in the early seasons. As these interns learned to adjust to the real world after spending years in medical school, they enjoyed relaxing with a drink at Joe's. It also helps that the show expanded outside of the hospital, as he and his partner joined the boys' camp in season three. So, the addition of the Emerald City Bar allowed audiences to see the friendships between the Grey Sloan team grow, which helped when it came to developing relationships between the characters. So, while it's unlikely Joe will ever return to Seattle, it's clear that the Emerald City Bar will always hold fond memories for the doctors and fans alike.