Putting Philanthropy
On The Menu… WORDS: Kara Chalmers
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
John and Amanda Horne own the
29
successful Anna Maria Oyster Bar,
with four Manatee County locations.
But it’s hard to even mention the couple
without noting their generosity and
community involvement – described
as “unparalleled” by multiple people
interviewed.
“I wish we could clone them,” said Elena
arcia, Director of Federal Programs
for the Manatee County School District.
arcia met the Hornes through their
program “Dive into Reading,” which aims
to keep County-rising third graders reading
over the summer, and thus preventing the
“summer slide.” The program was featured
in this magazine last August.
“If everybody had as big a commitment
to their community as John and Amanda
Horne have, the world would be a better
place,” arcia said.
From Bus Boy
to Beloved Businessman
Today a philanthropist, hands-on
volunteer, business leader and community
activist, John Horne’s career in the
restaurant industry began 37 years ago,
when he started as a bus boy at Fast
Eddie’s restaurant in Anna Maria.
“I loved it from day one,” Horne said. He
worked at Fast Eddie’s for ten-and-a-half
years, moving from bus boy to server to
manager, learning about the restaurant
business with each promotion.
In 1996, he opened his rst Anna Maria
Oyster Bar on the Anna Maria City
Pier. The small oyster bar offering fresh
seafood was a hit, so over the next six
years, Horne opened three more locations
- two in Bradenton and one in Ellenton.
Horne closed the original location in
1999. But the islanders didn’t forget him,
and when the restaurant space on the
Bradenton Beach Pier on Bridge Street
became available a few years ago, Horne
took the opportunity to go back to his roots.
“It was in my wheelhouse, it’s where I
started,” Horne said. “It was a perfect
full circle.”
So, in December 2016, Horne opened
Anna Maria Oyster Bar on the Pier, after
a complete renovation. The 160-seat
dining and bar area is now light and airy,
surrounded on all sides by water views.
There’s a covered back deck, beachy
décor, and tropical drinks.