Ember restaurant, at 302 Trade Street, has closed after five months.
With Ember's closing, the owner took the opportunity to pitch another establishment coming in its place. Pour Judgement (sic) is coming soon, a sign on the door at Ember read.
Kearns and Ember’s staff was jolted when partner and general manager Ryan Storrie died of a heart attack on Jan. 31, one month after the restaurant opened for New Year’s Eve. Storrie, best friends with Kearns, came up with the Ember name and Himalayan salt block idea.
In an exclusive January interview with GreerToday.com Kearns responded to Storrie’s death. "My first thought when I learned about Ryan's death was to sell the restaurant," Kearns said. "I'm definitely not going to do that. My first responsibility is to keep this restaurant going.”
Kearns did not respond to phone message. A phone call to the restaurant left a recording: “Thank you for calling Ember at 302 Trade Street. Please leave us a message and we will call you back as soon as possible.”
The restaurant, noted for its Himalayan salt block method of cooking food tableside, began offering live music on Wednesday and Thursday the past month to create a wider clientele. Kearns also tinkered with Ember’s menu offering smaller dishes using the Himalayan stone cooking process.