A glimpse around the Bashful Bandit shows biker-themed flags hanging from the rafters, neon lights piercing a smoky lounge and rock 'n' roll music playing from a worn jukebox near the door.
It's what you might expect to find inside the Bandit, a Midtown tavern that's been attracting a biker clientele for decades.
So it might come as a bit of a surprise to find 21-year-old Joe Stapleton, a University of Arizona business major, heading a joint that normally has a row of motorcycles parked out front.
"A lot of people are surprised to find out that I'm the owner," Stapleton said after a day of classes. "They always say, 'You're so young.' But it's nothing new to me.
"I grew up on a Harley. I've been coming here since I was 6 years old."
In his youth, Stapleton learned the ropes of riding a motorcycle and took a few early business lessons from his dad, Bill Stapleton, who bought the Bashful Bandit, 3686 E. Speedway, in 1989.
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After deciding on an early retirement, the elder Stapleton turned the bar over to his son last year.
"He taught me a lot. But the best thing he didn't do was hold my hand," Joe Stapleton said, counting his dad as a role model. "It was sink or swim."
Among the changes since taking over the Bandit was tapping into Tucson's college scene.
Located on East Speedway just west of North Alvernon Way, Stapleton said the Bandit's Midtown location is hard to beat.
"The Bandit has an image of being only a biker bar," Joe Stapleton said. "People say, 'Don't go there.' That might have been the case in the '70s and '80s, but it's changed.
"It's a biker bar and a neighborhood bar. It's really a Tucson landmark."
When it comes to UA students heading their own businesses, it's not as rare as you might think, said Jim Jindrick, a mentor in residence at the UA Eller College of Management's entrepreneurship program.
"There are about four or five students running businesses in town. It's not that unusual," he said.
By combining real-world experience with the academic components, students can succeed, said Jindrick, who also runs Wencil Research LLC in Tucson.
"Do I see success for (Joe)? That's up to him. But I think he's taken what he's learned here and has applied it at the Bandit," he said. "I think he'll do great."
With plans to fix the potholes in the parking lot and adding a patio onto the building, Stapleton said he wants to create a more inclusive feel at the tavern.
"What's exciting is seeing the success come after taking over," Stapleton said, noting more college-age students at the Bandit.
As a senior at the Eller College, Stapleton plans to graduate in May with degrees in finance and entrepreneurship.
With a heavy course schedule this semester, Stapleton said managing the bar's finances and operations took a lot of time management.
"It's a lot easier than I thought it would be. I can go to meetings and class and work around my school schedule," he said. "That's the biggest advantage because I can set my hours."
Though recruiters from national banks and financial institutions have made calls to Stapleton, he said leaving Tucson to work for another company isn't in the plans just yet.
"I'm an entrepreneur at heart. It's hard to see myself working for someone else right away," he said. "But it's hard to say what the future holds."
Name: Joe Stapleton
Age: 21
Job: Owner of the Bashful Bandit, 3686 E. Speedway.
Friday On the Job focuses on the people who make Tucson businesses run — those who are in charge, keep a business running, are just starting out or hire workers.