The transformation of the historic William C. Ellis & Sons Ironworks and Machine Shop into a fine dining restaurant might appear unattainable at first thought. However, an unpredictable match made in history struck a storyline that today parallels beautifully.
Honoring the craftsmanship of two artists in their own right — a blacksmith over a century ago and a chef today — their shared use of fire led to a creative vision that sparks creativity and culinary excellence each day at Amelia Gene’s.
Opened in 1879 as a blacksmith shop by an Englishman-turned-Tennessean, William C. Ellis and his sons (and grandsons) grew the business over the course of a century to house a foundry, machine shop, and even an iron furnace. Renowned for fabricating the city’s first sanitary sewer system and manhole covers that still dot the city today, Ellis & Sons continued through the 21st century, when third-generation Henry C. Ellis III worked five days a week until he was 95 years old. The property sold in 2016 to developer Carlisle Corp., who envisioned a renaissance for Downtown Memphis just as the building’s predecessor had promised.
The Carlisle and Amelia Gene’s design team integrated many of the original building’s machinery into the restaurant’s design, while some original items were reclaimed from area antique shops. Honoring the foundry’s sparks, a commissioned glass art installation frames the ceiling of the dining room, flickering and catching onto the glass of a reserve wine or an artfully designed dish as it hits the table.
Look up and look around. From one form to another, the craftsmanship continues.
