For more than three decades, Sand Springs Saloon & Steakhouse has been a gathering place in Frostburg—a restaurant where meals come with familiar faces, family stories, and a deep connection to community. In honor of Women’s History Month, Allegany County Economic and Community Development (ACECD) is spotlighting the women behind that legacy: owner Jo Eisel and her daughter, Jacy Eisel, who are working together to guide the business into its next chapter.
Established in 1994, Sand Springs was purchased from what had been Ruffos Tavern and gradually evolved from a small bar into the full-service steakhouse and community destination it is today. The restaurant remains family-owned and operated, with hospitality, consistency, and customer relationships at the center of its identity.
For Jo, the early years of Sand Springs were defined by determination and adaptability. What began as a modest business opportunity quickly grew into something much larger, shaped by customer demand and the support of the Frostburg community. Over time, simple additions to the menu helped transform the bar into a restaurant, and then into the longstanding local favorite many residents know today.
“I have customers that were coming in 32 years ago that still come in today,” Jo said. “A lot of people know me, I know a lot of people, and I had a lot of support from our customers. I still do.”
That steady local support has helped Sand Springs build something increasingly rare in today’s restaurant industry: longevity rooted in relationships. From the beginning, Eisel’s relatives supported the business’s operations:
“My grandma was bartending. My aunt was working in the kitchen. Everyone just kind of stepped in wherever they needed, and no one was above any one job,” Jacy said. “I think people got to experience that with us and learned who we were and our story and got really invested in it.”
That family-centered approach continues to shape the guest experience today. For Jacy, Sand Springs has always represented something bigger than a restaurant. Growing up in the business, she saw firsthand how it became a place where people gathered, caught up with neighbors, and celebrated milestones.
“I’ve always seen Sand Springs as proof that restaurants work best when they feel like they belong to the people that they serve,” Jacy said. “It really acted as a gathering place for the community.”
That sense of belonging is part of what has kept Sand Springs relevant over the years. The restaurant has built loyalty through both atmosphere and consistency. Longtime menu favorites have remained staples, while new specials are introduced through rotating blackboard features—some of which eventually become permanent additions after proving popular with customers.
Among the best-known favorites are the restaurant’s steaks, hot crab dip, the steakhouse burger, and crab-baked chicken (a dish that has become especially popular with guests). At the same time, the team continues to introduce new ideas to keep the menu fresh.
One moment helped crystallize Jacy’s understanding of how much Sand Springs means to the wider community. While working as a server, she overheard guests telling out-of-town relatives the story of the business as if it were their own. “That was a really big moment for me,” Jacy said. “It kind of made me realize that a story that I think is just ours really belongs to the entire Frostburg community.”
Now, the business is entering a new phase. Jacy joined Sand Springs in a larger strategic role in 2024, focusing on long-term growth and expansion, while Jo continues to lead day-to-day operations. Together, they describe their partnership simply: Jacy focuses on the big picture, while Jo excels at execution. “We’re naturally very close,” Jacy said. “I tell everyone that we’re like the Gilmore Girls. That’s the best way to describe it.”
As Jo looks ahead to retirement in the coming years, Jacy is preparing to take over leadership of the business fully. That transition is already underway, with plans that include a second Sand Springs location in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and the redevelopment of Hocking House in Frostburg as an office and business space for Sand Springs’ next chapter.
The Hocking House project reflects the same commitment to Allegany County that has long defined the restaurant. Purchased in 2025, the historic building had sat vacant for decades. With assistance from The Frostburg Main Street Structural Stabilization Grant Program, Jo and Jacy are working to bring the property back into productive use as headquarters for Sand Springs and as a space that could support other local businesses.
