In this 24 Hours to Hell and Back episode, Gordon Ramsay visits Phoenix Emporium in Ellicott City, Maryland.
Ellicott City was hit by floods in both 2016 and 2018.
The local businesses suffered as a result.
In order to save the restaurant Gordon is turning off the 24 hour timer.
Instead, they will have a number of days for the job.
Phoenix Emporium is owned by Mark Hemmis.
Rachel says that after the second flood a number of businesses weren't able to reopen.
The town still hasn't recovered from the floods.
After the second flood, Phoenix Emporium was scheduled to be torn down.
The town planned to create a flood channel to avoid further disasters.
Mark bought a new location for the restaurant on Main Street.
He is attempting to merge two businesses together - The Phoenix and The Ellicott Brewing Company.
Gordon goes undercover as a historian with a group of locals.
They are shown Phoenix Emporium and the levels that the water rose to.
Gordon arrives at The Ellicott Brewing Company.
He is confused by the German influence menu.
His table orders the schnitzel, rib eye steak, battered rock fish and pork chop.
The schnitzel is bland, the rib eye is full of gristle and is tough.
The batter is good but the rockfish is dry.
The German potato salad is ice cold.
Gordon asks the staff to bring the kitchen staff out the front.
He removes his disguise to cheers from the diners.
Gordon asks Mark to get all of the townspeople to come outside to the Little Market Cafe.
Outside Phoenix Emporium Gordon tells them that he will be doing whatever it takes.
He wants to restore the town and that he needs the towns help.
Mark explains that the old restaurant acted like a flood wall.
The new flood litigation plans called for the restaurant to be demolished.
This was along with other buildings needed to create a relief channel.
As he wanted to remain in the town he bought the Ellicott Mills Brewing Company.
He had plans to merge the businesses but not the know-how.
Tim has been Manager of the Ellicott Mills Brewing Company for 23 years.
He feels like another family is moving into his house.
Gordon meets Mark in Phoenix Emporium, who tells him of the devastation of the 2016 flood.
He received the call about the flood and rushed to the restaurant.
During the 2018 flood Mark, his employers and customers were in the restaurant.
It was painful for him to recall due to the terror and panic of the event.
The final blow to Mark after the trauma of the floods was being told that the building was to be demolished.
Gordon asks to meet all of the staff from both businesses for a team meeting.
He says there is only one chance to get it right.
Gordon is critical of the food and says that it needs to change.
There is currently no Head Chef at the Brewing Company.
He wants to bring in a new chef, Phoenix chef Julio's daughter Cynthia.
Tim recognises that they need to bring people in to fill the ability holes of the brewing company.
Mark makes it clear they are starting from scratch with something new.
Gordon makes it clear that everyone will be fighting to show him that deserve a place in the new restaurant.
Along with designer Theresa, the Maryland University football team are brought in to help.
They begin removing everything from the restaurant.
Gordon inspects the walk-in and says it has a foul smell.
He finds a pot of pork soaking in blood.
There is a tub of goulash with no date and a rusty pan used as a ladle.
Tim is shown the pork and Gordon is told that it is the pork that he ate at lunch.
Cynthia starts cleaning the kitchen.
Mark is shocked to discover how bad the kitchen is.
He is dismayed at the state of the kitchen.
Gordon is concerned about the menu for the restaurant.
He calls the staff to his Hell on Wheels truck.
Gordon wants to test out Cynthia's capability.
He asks her to take a look in the fridge and cook him a dish with the ingredients in there.
She cooks a seared chicken with succotash.
Gordon likes the flavour of the dish and is seasoned nicely.
He only has a small criticism on presentation.
Gordon introduces the new menu to the staff.
He shows them how to cook a mussel dish.
The rest of Gordon's team will teach them the rest of the menu.
Gordon is concerned about whether Mark is invested om the move to the new building.
They sit down for a chat.
Mark admits that he is overwhelmed.
Gordon reveals that he has brought in restaurant consultants.
They will help Mark to gain expertise in business.
Gordon takes Mark to see the stripped out restaurant.
He admits it is very hard to leave the restaurant despite him looking forward to the new restaurant.
Mark and his wife board up Phoenix Emporium to close the chapter on the restaurant.
He has the support of the town, who are cheering him on.
Gordon reveals that he has invited The Iron Man, Cal Ripken JR.
He will help with team work ahead of the relaunch of the restaurant.
Gordon takes all of the owners to the home of the Baltimore Ravens.
The team will be displaying a huge billboard advertising the town during the first home game of the season.
Phoenix Upper Main is revealed to both Mark and the town.
There are new tables and chairs and brighter colours.
There are community tables, a new POS system, all new kitchen equipment and a new bar.
On relaunch night, Gordon gives the team at Phoenix a pep talk before reopening.
The staff are excited for the relaunch.
At first the food leaves the kitchen at a good pace and the customers are happy.
Soon the tickets begin to line up and the kitchen gets behind.
Jeff drops a portion of fries on the floor and customers are left waiting for food.
Cynthia struggles as they discover that the tickets are the wrong way around.
Once they recover and correct the order they get back on track.
The customers love the new food.
The staff worked together well and despite the small hiccup the relaunch was a success.
What Happened Next at Phoenix Upper Main?
Shortly after Gordon visited Ellicott city temporarily closed.
The city was closed under a shutdown.
Phoenix Upper Main offered curbside pickup during the summer of 2020.
Reviews on Facebook and Google are very positive since Gordon visited.
Customers love both the food and friendly service.
Yelp Reviews are mixed.
Some diners complained about the limited menu put in place in early March.
Phoenix Emporium featured in 24 Hours to Hell and Back season 3 episode 10.
It was aired on May 12 2020 and the episode was filmed in February 2020.
More 24 Hours to Hell and Back
More from the episode - The Little Market Cafe and Jaxon Edwin
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