The founders of Ember & Iron restaurant plan to open a third location in the summer of 2027 in the St. Augustine Historic District, according to a July 1 news release.
The restaurant will be the fourth launched by spouses Michael and Brittany Cooney, who operate the original Ember & Iron in St. Johns. The Cooneys also own Gemma Fish + Oyster in San Marco and recently announced they will open another Ember & Iron in The Village at Seven Pines in 2027.
The location in St. Augustine will be at 62 Spanish St., the release said.
“The incredible support we’ve received at our other restaurants has shaped how we approach our growth,” Michael Cooney said in the release.
“We are a brand that fits well within neighborhoods with strong roots, and St. Augustine is a welcoming, close-knit community that values local businesses.”
Plans call for Ponte Vedra-based Serrafin Master Builders to coordinate construction. Architectural design is by Dixon Design Studio of St. Augustine. Interior design is by Rebecca Davisson Interior Design of Jacksonville. Engineering is by Goswami Engineering of Jacksonville.
Len Weeks Construction Design Development of St. Augustine, which specializes in historic preservation, is the general contractor.
The tentative build-out budget is $3.5 million, according a restaurant representative.
Plans include seating for 200 guests indoors and another 100 outdoors. The 10-seat Gun Shop bar, named for a former retailer in the building, will be on the patio.
A 50-guest event and dining area also is planned in the 9,546-square-foot space.
The property dates to the Spanish colonial period when it was the Don Pedro Fornells House. The structure was demolished in 2014 after it partially collapsed, and new construction on the property was completed in 2025.
Weeks has owned the property for 25 years, according to the release. He is a former mayor of St. Augustine and originated the city’s Nights of Lights holiday display.
“More and more people are visiting downtown, and they are looking for a higher-quality dining experience, which is exactly what Ember & Iron does so well,” Weeks said in the release.
“A lot of people had interest in this building, but once I met Mike and Brittany, I just knew it was the right fit. This restaurant is exactly what the historic district needs.”
The two new locations will have 8-foot-long, oak-burning hearth grills that gives Ember & Iron menu items their smoky flavor.
The menu at the original location includes entrees of seared salmon, scallops red fish and snapper from $34 to $38. Pork schnitzel is $28, chimichurri steak is $38, and a 16-ounce rib-eye served with sweet potato gratin, herb butter and demi-glace is $58.
The St. Augustine location will have the complete Ember & Iron menu and will feature a raw bar similar to that at Gemma Fish + Oyster. A full bar will feature bourbons and whiskeys.
The restaurant is expected to be open Tuesday through Sunday, with plans to add a Sunday brunch shortly after opening.