Two friends who love experimenting with flavor opened a restaurant with their famous bourbon chicken and custom sauces inside the locally-owned Marion Brewing Company at 151 S. Main Street in Marion.
Local Roots
Eric Morningstar and Denim Franklin have been friends and family for more than 20 years. Denim was born and raised in Marion. He attended Harding High School, graduated from Ridgedale and served in the Army for three years before returning home.
Eric grew up in Galion and graduated from Northmor. Their wives, Tanya Morningstar and Jessica Franklin, are cousins.
E.D.S the Sauce Guys Gets Its Start
Eric made a bourbon sauce his wife loved. He and Denim tried it for a crowd at a 4th of July party in 2015. Many people insisted they should do this as a business.
“We started the whole company with $40,” recalls Eric. “It paid for itself!”
At first, they rolled out E.D.S sauces, with a variety of fruit, spices and seasonings. Their sauces were discovered by Sherwood Food Distribution. It’s now available in dozens of cities.
Bourbon Chicken Takes Off
“We went to farmer’ markets,” Denim remembers. “When we started offering food for people to eat while sampling the sauce, people told us, ‘You need to open a restaurant.’ So, we said, ‘Let’s try it!’”
Denim and Eric took their bourbon chicken on the road, pulling up tents that blocked up the midway at the Delaware County Fair. They opened a restaurant in 2021 in Mt. Gilead, but it struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Move to Marion
Employees from Marion Brewing Company loved the food. E.D.S opened inside Marion Brewing Co., located at 151 S. Main Street in downtown Marion, last fall.
“It’s the perfect marriage,” Denim said.
“All of their stuff is custom. Ours is as well,” Eric said. ‘They came and tried our food and showed us the space. They knew sales dropped at dinner. People wanted something to eat.”
Menu: Bourbon Chicken and Smoked Meats and Sides
E.D.S offers many items, but the bourbon chicken over jasmine rice is the most popular.
“We design sauces tailored to different meats. We have over 100 flavors. Everything is from Ohio except the fruit, which has no concentrates or juices. Our bourbon sauce has a blackberry puree. It’s very subtle. It’s a compliment to the flavor, not overpowering.”
They make all of their meats in a custom smoker using a blend of maple, applewood and hickory chips.
“Smoking is a labor of love,” Denim said. “Everything we have is smoked, including the mac n’ cheese and corn bread!”
“It’s a lighter smoke flavor. I love that smell,” Eric said.
Daily Specials
In addition to their bourbon chicken and smoked chicken sandwiches, they have daily specials.
On Wednesdays, they offer thick-cut double-smoked bacon BLTs.
Each Thursday, they offer pulled pork with a custom rub over rice or nachos.
Fridays feature ½” thick smoked bologna.
“It’s very different from fried bologna,” Denim said.
“The smoked flavor takes it to a new level!” Eric said.
Saturdays include a smoked steak burger and smoked pretzel bites with beer cheese. Smoked sides include cowboy beans, mac n’ cheese and corn bread. They also offer craft sodas for those who aren’t stopping in for the Marion Brewing Company’s 16 custom beers or seltzers.
“We’re very passionate about what we do,” Denim said.
Customers can also pick up some of their famous sauces to take home.
Excited to Be a Part of Downtown’s Revitalization
“Marion’s downtown has grown leaps and bounds in the last several years,” Denim said. “As a Marionite, it’s exciting to see us turning downtown Marion into a destination. We rival other downtowns.”
“A lot of people are investing time and money into it,” Eric said.
Hours
- Wednesday – Friday: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Saturday: noon to 8 p.m.
Customer Review
Mary Stansbery from Upper Sandusky stopped in for a custom brew at Marion Brewing Company during March Madness.
“I like their City of Kings IPA. Their selection is really broad. They have something here for everyone,” Stansbery said. “I’m excited they have a food option now. Downtown Marion has turned a corner! A lot of nice restaurants are here. Things are looking up!”
For more info:
- E.D.S Facebook page
- (419) 347-1200
- e.d.s.bourbon.sauce@gmail.com
- 151 S. Main St., Marion, OH
They offer free delivery in walking distance and will deliver larger group orders.
They offer discounts to those who come in wearing E.D.S merchandise.
MarionMade! is a program of Marion Technical College.
