Blue Ember Smokehouse Coming to West Little Rock

Blue Ember Smokehouse in Fort Smith. The eatery is coming to Little Rock in March. (C.R. Crawford Construction)

Have you heard about a new restaurant coming to west Little Rock?

Blue Ember Smokehouse is bringing its aromatic, handcrafted barbecue to town after the purchase of a 1.4-acre site near the northeast corner of Rahling Road and Chenal Parkway.

Bluco Real Estate LLC, led by Earl Richardson, bought the property from PotlatchDeltic Real Estate LLC for $1.4 million. Dirt work is underway, and the 5,200-SF restaurant is expected to be open by March.

Greenwood restaurateur Mark Dean originated the Blue Ember concept. Richardson and Dean are both Colton’s Steak House & Grill franchisees.

The Little Rock project will be the fifth Blue Ember Smokehouse. The chain has restaurants in Fort Smith and Jonesboro, and construction is on track for a Texarkana venue to begin serving customers by year’s end. A Hot Springs eatery is also in the works.