Steve Uliss, owner of Firefly's BBQ in Marlborough, passes away
Photo | WBJ File
Steve Uliss (center) serves free lunches to Marlborough first responders in 2018.
Steve Uliss, founder of Firefly’s BBQ restaurant and catering company in Marlborough and a well-known figure in the Central Massachusetts culinary scene, died at age 61 on Friday.
The cause of Uliss’ death has not been disclosed. His passing was announced on Friday by the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, of which Uliss was a board member.
“Massachusetts lost an incredible friend, family man, restaurant operator, and person today. Steve Uliss was a long time MRA board member and made countless contributions to the restaurant industry,” a Friday post on the MRA’s Facebook page reads. “Our hearts and condolences are with his family, his friends and the entire Firefly's BBQ community at this extremely difficult time.”
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Uliss, a graduate of Shawsheen Valley Technical High School in Billerica and Johnson & Wales University in Providence, worked in the culinary industry from age 16. He was first introduced to barbecue while working for the Peabody Hotel Group, according to Firefly’s website.
Uliss founded Firefly’s BBQ in 1999, bringing a wide variety of different barbecue dishes to a region which formerly lacked access to Southern cuisine.
Under Uliss’ watch, the businesses established a fleet of catering trucks capable of feeding thousands, with its restaurant growing into a large indoor and outdoor space with room for live music and up to 275 guests. Firefly’s food racked up numerous awards, with the restaurant being named one of the 10 best BBQ joints in America by National Geographic in 2013.
“We join with the Marlborough community to mourn the tremendous loss of Steve Uliss, owner and executive chef at Firefly’s BBQ,” The Marlborough Economic Development Corp. wrote in a Facebook post Saturday. “Steve was a brilliant culinary expert, a pillar in the hospitality community and always willing to give back and get creative. His passion drove his success and filled so many of our hearts for close to 25 years here in Marlborough.”
Eric Casey is the managing editor at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the manufacturing and real estate industries.
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