Rib City Grill was started in South Florida in Fort Myers.  This was started as a small family-style barbecue operation in 1989.  It began on U.S. 41 and the second location was opened in Cape Coral in 1990.  Since the location on U.S. 41 had become too small for the company they moved it up the street to a larger building in 1992.  Rib City Grill was started by Paul and Craig Peden and they later converted a location in Fort Myers Beach to a Rib City Grill that year.  The next location was opened in Naples in 1994 and in 1995 the father and son combination continued to expand into new areas. They piled up awards and added 11 more locations over the next ten years.  They began to offer restaurant franchises in 2004 and this helped the company expand all over the country.  There are currently 14 franchise locations and 11 company owned locations.

Rib City Grill is most well-known for their ribs, but they also feature many other barbeque items on their menu.  They offer both barbeque beef and barbeque pork along with barbeque chicken as well.  They have many appetizers, lunch items, and dinner items.  This includes many appetizers like their buffalo shrimp and their onion rings to their lunch combos, dinner platters, and the variety of salads they offer.  Rib City Grill also offers many beverage items including beer and wine and they also offer a few dessert options as well.

To open a Rib City Grill restaurant franchise, an individual or group must have at least a net worth of a half million dollars.  Of the half million at least $100,000 must be liquid capital.  They do not require restaurant experience, but it does help.  They do charge a $40,000 franchise fee for a single unit and the fee for multi-unit deals can be less.  The franchisee must pay a monthly royalty of the gross sales of 4% and another 1% of the gross sales each month toward marketing.