Conroe restaurateur and philanthropist Joe Haliti has been named the city’s 2025 Citizen of the Year. Known for his generosity, Haliti has given away tens of thousands of meals during holidays and disasters, making a lasting impact on the community.
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Conroe businessman and restaurateur Joe Haliti has been named the 2025 Citizen of the Year for his unflinching dedication to the city.
The founder of Joe's Italian Restaurant accepted the honor during Saturday's Isaac Conroe Founder's Day celebration, acknowledging his years of philanthropy, kindness, and support of first responders.
Arriving in the United States in the late 1980s, Albanian immigrant Haliti has run his Conroe restaurant for nineteen years. Particularly during holidays and catastrophic calamities, he has, over the years, distributed tens of thousands of meals to people in need.
One of Haliti's most noteworthy donations came following Hurricane Harvey's 2017 devastation when he organized a benefit to assist fellow restaurateur Buster Bowers in rebuilding his company. Haliti aimed to donate 50,000 free meals during the COVID-19 epidemic. Haliti exceeded that in 2020 and has already distributed over 81,000 meals. His next turning point was over 100,000 donated lunches.
Apart from his charitable endeavors, Haliti co-founded, with business partner Jerry Nash, a patriotic-themed energy drink called Bomber Energy. His kindness also reached Uvalde in 2022, where he assisted with supply delivery following the horrific Robb Elementary School shooting.
Although Haliti said he was taken aback by the honor, those who know him claim his commitment to Conroe made him an obvious candidate for the award. Celebrated annually since 2018, the Isaac Conroe Founder's Day celebration honors the city's history and notable leaders.
Haliti's legacy as a humanitarian and businessman solidifies in Conroe's history as he continues to serve his town.
