In 1984, Jo Schneider and Willow Bentley opened Bentley’s House of Coffee and Tea on Speedway Blvd. Jo’s vision for Bentley’s was to provide a relaxing and safe space for the people of Tucson and to build a community in which she could raise her children. What Jo didn’t know was that Bentley’s was only the beginning of the impact her family would have in Tucson. In 2010, twenty-six years after Bentley’s opened its doors, Jo expanded her mission of serving the community when she started running the La Cocina Restaurant. Over the next 13 years at La Cocina, Jo turned the restaurant into a destination for thoughtful food, creative cocktails, and a venue for Tucson musicians that attracted locals and visitors alike.

As Jo transitioned to full-time grandma, her sons, Ben and Eli, started to take on more responsibility at the restaurant. While they were infusing the space with their own ideas and goals, her sons still sought a way to honor the vision Jo worked so hard to build. In 2023, La Cocina became JoJo’s, the affectionate name used by all the children in Jo’s life. Although the restaurant’s name is different, the mission remains the same. This space is a love letter to you, the people of Tucson, and the Schneider family thanks you for 40+ years of your support.