HISTORY

The ribs that legends are made of

started out with the dedication of one man and a dream. Famous for his ribs and barbecue sauce with his family and friends, he opened a small, family-style barbecue operation in 1989 on U.S. 41 in Fort Myers, Florida. With the success of that location he was inspired to open a second restaurant in Cape Coral in 1990. Having outgrown his small location on U.S. 41, by 1992, he moved up the street to a larger building and brought in partners Paul and Craig Peden, successful restaurateurs in Southwest Florida for over 20 years. Later that same year, they converted a Fort Myers Beach location into a Rib City Grill®, and the legend continued. In 1994, a location in North Naples was opened and Rib City Grill's® award-winning Baby Back Ribs were now available in two counties.

Our original rib man retired in 1995 and partners Paul and Craig Peden took over. As the awards and the customers' suggestions for new locations piled up, the Peden's added eleven more locations within the next ten years...East Fort Myers in 1996; East Naples in 1997; Immokalee in 1998; North Cape Coral and Lehigh Acres in 1999; Bonita Springs, St. Petersburg in 2002; Venice in 2004; South Fort Myers and North Fort Myers in 2005. With 13 restaurant locations in four counties, Floridians (and visitors from all over the world) can enjoy Rib City Grill's® award-winning Baby Back Ribs and Barbecue that have now, some 17 years later, become "The Ribs That Legends Are Made Of..."

Offering Franchises was the next step in the Rib City Grill® story and that chapter began in 2004 with restaurant locations in Littleton and Grand Junction, Colorado. In 2005 Franchise locations opened in Fruita and Arvada, Colorado. So far in 2006 Franchise locations have opened in Vancouver, Washington; American Fork, Utah; Montrose, Colorado and Fairfield, Ohio which brings the total to 8 Franchise restaurant locations. In 2007 and beyond Rib City Grill® will nurture the growth of this aspect of the business with additional locations nationwide. Through leadership, dedication and a love of the restaurant business, the Peden's have been able to maintain a superior quality in their products and services.

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