New Barbeque Restaurant to open in Little Rock early next year
Blue Ember Smokehouse, a modest barbecue chain hailing from Arkansas, with branches in Fort Smith and Jonesboro, is currently in the process of establishing a new establishment in West Little Rock, situated at the intersection of Rahling Road and Chenal Parkway.
Earl Richardson, who serves as the President of Colton’s Restaurant Group Inc. and leads Bluco Real Estate LLC, the entity that acquired the property for the upcoming Blue Ember location, has confirmed that the forthcoming establishment will encompass 5,147 square feet and have a seating capacity for up to 140 patrons.
According to the Blue Ember website, it prides itself on being a family-owned smokehouse that specializes in the art of handcrafted barbecue, carefully smoked in wood-only pits. Richardson, via email, expressed that the restaurant features prime brisket and freshly smoked items on a daily basis.
Blue Ember’s unique concept was conceived by Mark Dean, a well-known restaurateur from Greenwood, with both Richardson and Dean holding franchise affiliations with Colton’s Steak House & Grill, as reported by Arkansas Business.
The inaugural Blue Ember restaurant made its debut in Fort Smith in May 2021, with the Jonesboro location following suit in December 2022. Another branch in Texarkana is currently in the construction phase, anticipated to open in January 2024. Additionally, Richardson mentioned plans for an upcoming establishment in Hot Springs at the former Colton’s Steak House & Grill site. The Little Rock location is tentatively scheduled to open its doors in March 2024.
