New ownership, ‘same food’

Published 8:16 am Thursday, March 28, 2013

Ann Edwards, co-owner of Emily’s Café, takes an order during the restaurant's lunch rush. Emily’s Café’s Cranberry nut salad with balsamic dressing was listed as one of the “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die” and is feature in a new photo book titled Alabama Food. File Photo

Ann Edwards, pictured here in a file photo, has sold her interest in Emily’s Café due to health reasons. Edwards’ brother and stepsister will continue to operate the restaurant. (File Photo)

It is an old expression, to be sure, but not one without its merit.

Take Emily’s Café, for example.  The establishment has been a staple in the diet of many Greenville residents for nearly six years.

“We named it after my mother,” said Linda Morrison, head cook at Emily’s Café.

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“She passed away, and she always wanted to open a restaurant and never got the chance to.”

After her passing, Emily’s daughters took it upon themselves to open the restaurant and fulfill their mother’s dream.

In the six years since, the establishment has proved itself one of Greenville’s top eateries time and again, even nabbing one of the top spots on the list of “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die.”

But one of those sisters, co-owner Ann Edwards, has recently decided to step down because of health issues. She recently had eye surgery, which will take several weeks to recover from.

But she leaves the restaurant in the more-than-capable hands of her brother and stepsister, who both have experience in the restaurant industry from their establishment in Gulf Shores.

“It’ll be the same service, the same food and everything that it has been for six years now, so we just hope to continue to have good business,” Morrison said.

“I’m still here, I’m the head cook and we plan on everything staying the same.”

The workers of Emily’s Café aren’t necessarily worried about the challenges that new management may present.  The new blood instead offers an opportunity for fresh ideas, and a unique means of strengthening the restaurant’s already strong offerings.

“We’re trying to come up with some new ideas, but I think everything will be good — and maybe a little better,” Morrison added.

“We talked about having some dinners on Friday and Saturday nights, but we haven’t definitely decided on anything yet.  But we’re looking towards that.”

Patrons of Emily’s Café can rest assured that although change is inevitable, it doesn’t always have to be a bad thing.