Welcome to Boone's Steer Barn

The Steer Barn restaurant has been a fixture in Wyandot County since 1965.  Through the years, the restaurant has been owned and operated locally, and has established itself as a fine dining establishment in its historic barn atmosphere. It is our hope as the new owners, that the storied reputation continues with our new team.

We also realize that this place is not about us, our team, or solely about good food served in a barn, but something much larger.  It about the big picture of life, of which we see as a series of stories continually being written by those we love, like those around your table.  And that this barn is a great place to gather as you continue writing your story.  From the moment you walk through our doors, until the time that you leave, it is our hope that you feel welcomed, satisfied, and blessed, and that you will be drawn back again.

Born and raised in Michigan and having grown up on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Alex Love has been in the hospitality industry since the age of 13. Having studied classical violin and piano at the New England Conservatory of Arts since the age of 6, Alex continued playing blues and jazz since the age of 17. 

Having a father in the business is what first led Alex to the hospitality industry and with that influence in his life, he became the youngest Executive Chef for the Charlie's Crab corporation at the age of 20 in Boca Raton, Florida. He returned to Michigan in 1995 and worked for Panera Bread (then the St. Louis Bread Company) opening 17 stores in the metro Detroit area over a 7year period. He then moved on to HDS Consulting as their Executive Chef. Alex’s specialties are seafood and multicultural dishes. He moved to Tiffin in 2008 and took over as the Executive Chef and General Manager of Carmie's and Camden Falls Convention Center. In 2016 he and his wife purchased Sauced Restaurant in New Riegel, Ohio, and operated it until June of 2020. 

Alex is married to Erin Lynn (Mack) Love, the niece of former Steer Barn owners, Lee and Jan Thiel. Erin is a Senior Business Analyst for BlackBoard Online Learning. Alex has three children: Sarah Rose 27, Garrett Mack, 7, and Monty Lee, 5, (who is named after Lee Thiel) and one grandson, David Alexander, 1.

Lisa Neely, who was originally from Steubenville Ohio, has called Upper Sandusky home for over thirty years. She feels fortunate to live and work in such a wonderful community.  For twenty-two of those years she has worked at this iconic establishment. She considers her job to be the caretaker of one of the cornerstones of her community. Although this is an ever-evolving industry, the tradition should remain of family and friends gathering to celebrate and enjoy life each day! 

Daniel Lucas, who was born and raised in Upper Sandusky, has been happily married for thirty-eight years to his high school sweetheart, Renée (Giacalone) Lucas who, originally from Michigan, has lived in Upper since she was seven. Together they have been blessed to raise nine children. For the past thirty-eight years Daniel has worked, and continues to work, at Lucas-Batton in Upper Sandusky as the fourth generation in the family-owned business. Renée has homeschooled all their children and has two more years left in this endeavor. They keep very active with their faith and with their ever-growing family which is currently at twenty-seven members and counting.