Joe Reese and Steve McClune first met while studying Food Service at Pennsylvania State University, and later became partners to open Bare Bones Restaurant & Bar, August 1988 in St. John's Plaza, Ellicott City. These fraternity brothers worked hard to develop what they call the "Bare Bones' concept. Baby Back Ribs were the house specialty from the start, along with other barbecue and grill items. The addition of a microbrewery in 1996 was the ultimate compliment to the Ellicott City menu and the restaurant was renamed Bare Bones Grill & Brewery. Beyond that point, the concept of Bare Bones Grill in South Florida came to be. Bare Bones Grill in Stuart, Florida offers the same charm of Bare Bones Grill & Brewery, but with many unique menu items and waterfront access. South Floridians have come to know what many in Ellicott City have known for decades...Our Ribs are the Best...No Bones About it!
This Nittany Lion is a Conamaugh, Pennsylvania native who brought his degree in Food Service to Maryland. He reopened his first Maryland property as a rib restaurant and began working to achieve the perfect rib recipe. Reese saw an opportunity to combine his construction background with his food service experience, offered a partnership to a fraternity brother, and the Ellicott City Bare Bones location was born. As Joe began visiting family members who had moved to Florida, he saw the potential in a new market. Again utilizing his construction background and their food service expertise, the partners began to renovate another property taking on a third and local partner. Bare Bones Grill & Brewery in Stuart, Florida is a restauranteur's dream - a property on the water - on the Manatee Pocket.
