Drawing on the momentum of his success, the growth that seemed to be 

underway in the downtown district, and—naturally—his passion, creativity, 

and willingness to think outside of the box, Abston opened the doors to The 

Tin Cow in 2012, offering something unexpected, delicious, and undeniably 

fun. More of an all-around family-friendly concept than Hopjacks’ late-night 

crowd pleasing offerings, The Tin Cow is built solidly on the foundation of just 

what the name implies: the divine bovine. All iterations of handcrafted gourmet 

burgers make up the menu, from premium-grade Angus beef to even more 

choice meats like American Kobe. No mere ketchup and mustard here—the 

dressings are just as imaginative as one might expect from a foodie like Abston, 

piling on everything from applewood bacon to Spam and pineapple. But beef 

isn’t the only thing on the bun—lamb, bison, venison, turkey, crab, black bean, 

and even vegan patties also hold their own; and the customization of all things 

from the burgers to the “snacks” of freshly-made chips, fries, and pork rinds 

means that The Tin Cow truly is in a herd all its own. 

Abston’s idea wasn’t just for the burgers and fries, however. He wanted to 

shake things up—literally—and the menu of milkshakes does just that, offering 

everything from classic vanilla and chocolate to “spiked” shakes so creamy and 

decadent that the buzz you’ll get from slurping one down is just the cherry on 

top. In its past six years of operation, the burger joint has definitely become a 

cattle call, and such success has whet Abston’s appetite to expand, likely in the 

form of franchising the brand to take it even further.

The whole venture has been exciting for this local guy with a few off-the-wall ideas, and his brands have certainly 

done their share to feed the community in more ways than 

one. “I love being able to bring something really different 

to Pensacola that people can’t get anywhere else, and these 

restaurants have also created so many jobs and learning 

opportunities for people,” says Abston. “We have nearly 150 

employees now and have helped provide employment for 

hundreds of college students, countless single mothers and 

fathers, veterans, and career hospitality people that love this 

industry. By no means could I do this alone—we’re all a team, 

and the success of these restaurants relies on that team.”

If Abston and his restaurants are any proof, those people 

that love the industry are the ones that are keeping things 

interesting, offering something unique to their diners, and 

eating up every minute of their success.

“I love being able to bring something 

really different to Pensacola that 

people can’t get anywhere else, and 

these restaurants have also created

so many jobs and learning opportunities 

for people,” says Abston.

Joe Abston

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