JoDees has been a fixture in Wisconsin's gay/lesbian bar scene for nearly as long as any other LGBT bar, open at least since 1972. It is a Racine and southeastern Wisconsin tradition as well, continuing to attract a healthy and diverse business (both gay men and lesbian women) year after year.

Advertising for Jodee's Club first appears in the February 1972 issue of the GPU News. In the August 1973 issue of GPU News, an ad appears advertising "The New Jo Dee's, Racine's Gayest Club, under new management". (Note the subtle change in spelling of the name.)

By 2006 JoDees was in 3rd place for the longest continuously open gay bar in the state, still with the same owner (Judy). Only This Is It (Milwaukee, opened 1968, and still operated by the original owner's son) and BallGame (Milwaukee, opened 1971, and still owned by one of the two original owners) have been open longer.