About
A modern approach to classic items.
What began as a small cafe in 2017 has grown into a full-service restaurant serving brunch and dinner in the heart of downtown Bristol. On September 21, 2022, Bloom re-opened across the street from our original location.
Former Bloom location across the street on the TN side at 606 State Street
Interior of our former location, now referred to as “Old Bloom”
Former seating area with our new location (pre-renovation) in the background
We pride ourselves on our attention to detail, quality, and passion with a Modern-American fine dining approach to simple and classic food items.
We are a woman-owned business with an amazingly talented staff. Our shared passions of creativity, culinary arts, gourmet coffee, and craft cocktails have led to our continued growth.
A welcoming atmosphere, a quality experience.
Our new space at 601 State Street, Bristol, VA offers an elevated casual dining experience and more seating.
We welcome all humans regardless of race, ethnicity, cultural or religious practices, sexual orientation, and gender identification.
We source high-quality ingredients for all of our dishes and drinks, including high-quality roasts from Counter Culture Coffee that highlight the distinct fruit flavors that are found in coffee.
Em Fehr, Owner
Em Fehr, the sole owner and operator of Bloom, opened a small coffee shop in the Fall of 2017. Her small business evolved over several years as she worked tirelessly to create what Bloom is today – a place for a quick morning coffee, a cozy brunch, and an upscale dining experience in the evenings.
When she thought of the type of business she wanted, she envisioned a lively space with soft, natural light filled with plants and colorful flowers. In fact, between her home and Bloom, Em cultivates over 60 plants.
Em also cares deeply about inclusivity. She strives to make all her customers feel welcome and to ensure that they have memorable dining experiences. She also strives to be a good boss. Every employee is a valuable part of her team with their own unique expertise, and it’s clear from their service that they take pride in what they do.
When Em isn’t at Bloom, she’s creating new recipes at home, dining out at local restaurants, reading, spending time with her family, and watering her many plants.
Josh Fehr, Chef
Josh Fehr, brother of owner Em Fehr, became the head chef of Bloom in 2020. He grew up in Bristol where he cultivated a love for both locally grown food and Appalachian traditions that would later inspire his culinary style.
Josh came into the industry all on his own. After graduating from East Tennessee State University (GO BUCKS) he dived head first into the culinary world and quickly became a creative and intuitive force in the local food scene. He blends his love of food and philosophy to create remarkable dishes and experiences for guests. He innovates Appalachian cuisine by blending tradition and modernity to create something both fresh and familiar. He hopes to make the tri cities a food destination. "My dream is to bridge the gap between fine dining artistry and old fashioned home cooked meals by creating simple but elegant dishes, " he says.
On the rare occasions he is not in the kitchen, you can find Josh spending time with his two cats. He is a part time musician and has an unabashed love of video games, which he insists he will never grow out of. He encourages anyone to follow him on instagram at @chefjoshfehr for life updates and food photos.