Jonathan “Rusty” Tucker grew up in Birmingham’s Crestwood neighborhood and attended culinary school at Johnson & Wales University, where he met his wife, Beth. Under the guidance of his chef instructors, he honed his culinary skills as well as his desire to “bring joy to others through food.” “I went off to culinary school and did the whole fine-dining thing for a little while but decided it really just wasn’t for me,” he says. “I would rather just make good comfort food and make people happy. And I think bar-b-q does that. It’s very approachable.”

Rusty worked in restaurants and food service throughout high school and college. After graduation, Rusty and Beth moved back to Birmingham to make Rusty’s dreams a of owning a restaurant a reality. At the age of 24, the Tuckers opened Rusty’s Bar-B-Q in 2009; Rusty’s Bar-B-Q was voted “Best Mom & Pop Bar-B-Q” in 2015 “Year of Alabama Bar-B-Q”. The Tuckers have worked hard to grow their business over the last 15 years. Rusty and Beth reside in the Birmingham area with their son, Thomas.