Montgomery Inn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Montgomery Inn |
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The first Montgomery Inn in Montgomery, Ohio
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| Restaurant information | |
| Established | November 1, 1951 |
| Previous owner(s) | Ted Gregory |
Montgomery Inn is a famous barbecue restaurant chain. It started in Montgomery, Ohio, near Cincinnati, USA. People especially love their tasty loin back ribs. They also love the special barbecue sauce used on the ribs.
Contents
The Story of Montgomery Inn
The Montgomery Inn story began on November 1, 1951. A man named Ted Gregory took over an old place called McCabe's Inn. This was in Montgomery, Ohio, which was a small country town back then.
At first, the restaurant was more known for drinks than food. The food served there wasn't very good. Ted's wife, Matula, would cook his meals at home. She often sent extra food for his friends who visited.
One day, she made delicious barbecued ribs with her own homemade sauce. Everyone who tried them loved them!
From Home Cooking to Famous Ribs
Soon after, the Gregory family, including their four children, took over the restaurant completely. They started serving the special ribs all the time. A local reporter even called Ted Gregory "The Ribs King." This nickname stayed with him for his whole life.
The restaurant was once a stagecoach stop. It became very popular and attracted many famous people.
Famous Visitors and Fans
Many well-known people have eaten at Montgomery Inn. These include entertainer Bob Hope, who was a big fan. Five US Presidents also visited: Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush.
Sports legends from the Cincinnati Reds baseball team also loved the Inn. These include Sparky Anderson, Joe Nuxhall, Pete Rose, Ken Griffey, Jr., and Johnny Bench. The former Reds owner, Marge Schott, was also a regular customer.
Other famous diners include actors Tom Selleck and Elizabeth Taylor. Singers Elton John and Britney Spears have also visited. Astronauts Neil Armstrong and John Glenn ate there too. Even tennis player Andre Agassi and baseball players Mark McGwire and John Franco stopped by.
The company says that singer Rosemary Clooney, who grew up near Cincinnati, served Montgomery Inn ribs at her wedding!
Growing the Restaurant Chain
In 1989, a second Montgomery Inn restaurant opened. It was called Montgomery Inn at the Boathouse. This location was in downtown Cincinnati, right by the Ohio River.
In 1998, the company added a special banquet hall. This was for big parties and events. However, this facility was later closed in 2006 or 2007. The land was then used for new homes.
Fire at Montgomery Inn East
Montgomery Inn's third restaurant, Montgomery Inn East, opened on the east side of Cincinnati. But in February 1997, a fire completely destroyed it. The fire started from a broken sign on the roof. Luckily, everyone got out safely, and no one was hurt.
However, the restaurant and all its special sports items were lost. Many valuable things were destroyed. These included Barry Larkin's Cincinnati Reds uniform. Oscar Robertson's signed basketball was also lost. Photos of Arnold Palmer and Cal Ripken's autographed baseball bat were gone too.
New Locations and Closures
In 2001, the company opened its fourth restaurant. This one was in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky. It was in a building that used to be another barbecue place called Burbank's. Burbank's was once a big competitor to Montgomery Inn.
In 2009, Montgomery Inn opened another new restaurant. This one was just north of Columbus, Ohio, in Dublin, Ohio.
Sadly, the Dublin restaurant closed in January 2017. The Fort Mitchell location also closed on July 1, 2018.
Montgomery Inn Products
Montgomery Inn started selling its famous barbecue sauce in bottles in 1990. Soon after, they began selling their ribs too. You can often find both the sauce and ribs in supermarkets. These are usually within 300 miles of Cincinnati. You can also order them online since 1994.
The Legacy of Ted Gregory
Ted Gregory, the founder, passed away on December 2, 2001. His family still runs the company today. Ted's picture, with his cigar and "Ribs King" crown, is still part of the company's logo. It reminds everyone of the man who started it all.
