our talented team
our story
Houston & Emily carpenter
They say opposites attract, well so do foodies, and it was the love of food that motivated Em and Houston Carpenter to dive into the hospitality industry, starting with Little Em’s Oyster Bar in 2020.
Both born and raised in San Antonio, the Carpenters started out in very different career paths. Em gravitated towards retail, working at a boutique for 7 years while earning her Business Degree at UTSA, while Houston chose the construction industry, managing hundreds of employees across the southwest.
The Carpenters have now opened five concepts across San Antonio: Up Scale in 2021, Restaurant Claudine
in 2022, Go Fish Wine Bar, and their newest, Nineteen Hyaku, in 2023.
Houston attests this growth to his team, and firmly believes in promoting within the company because
"things don't just happen".
When the Carpenters aren't managing their restaurants they can usually be found spending time with their
two beautiful daughters, Bertie and Rosie, teaching them to love food!
Both born and raised in San Antonio, the Carpenters started out in very different career paths. Em gravitated towards retail, working at a boutique for 7 years while earning her Business Degree at UTSA, while Houston chose the construction industry, managing hundreds of employees across the southwest.
The Carpenters have now opened five concepts across San Antonio: Up Scale in 2021, Restaurant Claudine
in 2022, Go Fish Wine Bar, and their newest, Nineteen Hyaku, in 2023.
Houston attests this growth to his team, and firmly believes in promoting within the company because
"things don't just happen".
When the Carpenters aren't managing their restaurants they can usually be found spending time with their
two beautiful daughters, Bertie and Rosie, teaching them to love food!