Weber Wins the Luxist Editors' Choice Award for Best in Outdoor Entertainment

Weber, which makes the best outdoor grills, according to its millions of customers around the world, is the winner of the Luxist's Editors' Choice Award for Best in Outdoor Entertainment. What is outdoor entertainment, after all, without a Weber grill to pull it all together?
In fact, it is not too surprising Weber has developed a cult-like following among people who own one of its gas or charcoal grills or any one of a number of the accessories it manufactures. Afterall, this is the company that is credited with revolutionizing outdoor barbecues. Weber grill owners are such fanatics about their purchases that tens of thousands from around the world have joined the company's Facebook page with many posting photos of themselves proudly posing alongside their beloved grills.
Weber was founded by George Stephen, Sr., whose inspiration came in 1952. Frustrated by the windblown flames emanating from his open backyard grill---and the resulting impact on his steaks---he decided to take matters into his own hands. He headed over to Weber Brothers Metal Works, his place of employment, and created the prototype of the dome-shaped grill that would become Weber's trademark product.
Though nearly 100 million American households now have outdoor grills, the market hadn't yet exploded when Stephen invented his strangely-shaped contraption, which was pricey ($50) compared to the standard open grill ($7). His friends made fun of him---until Stephen's invention started selling. By the late 1950s the product was so successful that Stephen was able to buy his employer's factory and devote it to producing cooking surfaces.
Stephen passed away in 1993, but his vision lives on as Weber hasn't stopped innovating. Weber's new products in 2011 will take grilling to a new level with such innovative features such as a LED tank scale and a redesign of its popular Genesis line, which gives owners the precision of gas-powered flames.
The company is now the world's leading manufacturer of barbecue grills and grilling accessories, all thanks to one man---and his steak.





