WHEN SOMEONE mentions Emmy’s Restaurant, my taste buds become excited. I immediately begin fantasizing about the hand-cut sweet potato fries served with a dipping bowl of melted butter and brown sugar paired with a smoked brisket sandwich with gooey cheese oozing over the sides of the bread. I smile when I think of Michael, our favorite server, who is always quick to top off our glasses of freshly brewed sweet tea. And last but never least, I think of the owner, Martha Akers, and her daughter, Andrea.
This mother-daughter duo are not fans of fast food, so they work diligently to source local, fresher ingredients that ensure every customer at Emmy’s always receives the very best. Though Martha isn’t native to Shelbyville or even to Middle Tennessee, she adores our community and has adopted each of us as if we are family. Originally from Chicago, she prides herself in offering the traditional dishes she grew up with from back home, but she’s infused every recipe with her own “Southern twist,” as she likes to call it.
“My daughter, Andrea, and I make our own English muffins,” said Martha. “All of our salad dressings are homemade. We cut the potatoes for our french fries, and every dessert is homemade. We actually grew the peppers for our hot chicken in our garden, dehydrated them ourselves, and then ground them up to make our sauce. Throughout the summer months, the tomatoes and basil that we used in our tomato pies came from our garden, as well as the dill and onions.”
When Martha first opened the doors of her restaurant in October 2015, she did so under the name Urban Plantation, but during 2020-21, she rebranded under the name Emmy’s Restaurant.
“My grandkids have always called me Emmy, so I thought it would be a cool name to use. These are the foods I grew up with, and I’m thankful my daughter and I work together. I’m also thankful for the support that I’ve found here for small businesses in Shelbyville. I couldn’t keep doing this without it. In fact, when we first opened, Michael believed in my dream so much that he worked an entire year for only tips to help us get the business off the ground. One year, when the Santa we booked got sick, Michael took over that role because we didn’t want to disappoint the kids. I really have the best staff, and I am beyond grateful for them.”
Martha finds joy and a deeper meaning in her life while she is investing in others. Though this frequently means quenching her customers’ sweet tooths or filling their bellies with nourishing comfort foods, she also ensures that everyone feels accepted and cared for — especially on Christmas Day. For this reason, she and her staff, along with several dedicated volunteers, have provided hundreds of free meals to our community. This holiday season, they are once again inviting everyone to “eat at Emmy’s” while Santa and Mrs. Claus pass out candy canes.
Through donations graciously given by customers throughout the year, every guest will receive a gift from under the Christmas tree. Martha also purchases towels, washcloths, and hygiene products that are delivered to local shut-ins and those within our community who are experiencing a tough season.
“I was in Illinois on Christmas Eve one year, and my mom’s church volunteered at a soup kitchen. After we finished our meal, my brother invited us to tag along and help,” said Martha. “It was neat to see everyone together and to know they felt included. I was also a single parent, so even though we celebrated as a family, I know that Christmas Day can be a lonely time. There are many people, especially those who are older, that have nowhere to go or their families have moved away. Some people don’t have anyone, so we invite everyone to Emmy’s on Christmas Day. Our family makes this a priority, and we plan our personal holiday vacations to ensure that we are always available to our community on this day. Seeing people come here that had nowhere to go is such a blessing. Shelbyville has embraced us, and we have embraced them.”
Emmy’s will also host a pancake breakfast on the first weekend in December. Kids eat free with the purchase of an adult meal. So, stop in and get a free picture with Santa. GN
