2025 marks 44 years of experience in Manatee County’s hospitality industry for John Horne, who began his career working summers as a busboy on Anna Maria Island while completing his business degree at Clemson University.
In 1995, John opened his first restaurant, Anna Maria Oyster Bar, on the City Pier in Anna Maria, Florida. Six more restaurants followed.
Today, the restaurants are affectionately known by locals as the AMOBs and are well-known as places to enjoy fresh, delicious seafood at a great value, served by a team of wonderful staff in a fun, family- friendly atmosphere. A 7th AMOB will open in 2025 at the expanding SRQ Airport. 52-year-old Café L’Europe on St. Armands Circle joined the brand three years ago.
John Horne and his 425+ co-workers at Oysters Rock Hospitality have garnered many accolades over the years.
On Thanksgiving Day 2012, John married Amanda Horne, who shares his passion for improving education in their community. They will celebrate their 25th Wedding Anniversary this summer. You’ll be challenged to do that math.
Amanda works to encourage inclusivity in our community and has spent her career championing access to educational opportunities. The Hornes have been recognized for their leadership and philanthropy by numerous organizations. One award of special significance to the Hornes is receiving the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation’s Restaurant Neighbor Award for their work with their Dive into Reading program, a summer Grade-Level Reading program for Title I schools in Manatee, Sarasota, and DeSoto Counties just completing their eighth summer in collaboration with several local restaurants to serve more than 3,000 first, second, and third graders. Together they were recent recipients of the Manatee Chamber’s Bob P. Bartz Award for Outstanding Leadership and the Pace Center for Girls Statewide Believing in Girls Award for their years of dedication to girls, including co-chairing a $6 Million Capital Campaign.
They hosted an annual golf tournament for 11 years raising over $600,000 and open their home frequently to fundraisers for PACE Center for Girls, Women’s Resource Center, and Cancer Support Center, among others. John and Amanda firmly believe in collaboration with others and joined forces with another local couple to host a new fundraiser, The Horne & Moon Scholarship Social. In only five years, this event raised more than $500,000 to help adult “gap” students return to school at Manatee Technical College, State College of Florida, and University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee.
There is life outside the restaurants as well. John and Amanda enjoy traveling anywhere, but usually, there’s a cooking class with wine along the way.