It all started with a skillet sold by one man: craftsman and entrepreneur Isaac Morton. In 2015, Morton founded North Charleston-based cookware company Smithey Ironware Co. to share the experience of cooking with classic cast iron pieces. He sold the first handcrafted Smithey that same year as the company’s only employee.
But since setting out to recreate the cookware popular in the late 19th century, Morton has created a legacy all of his own. Today, 65 employees power Smithey and send its premium products to 550 retailers nationwide. And it’s all still made in North Charleston — from dutch ovens to spatulas, griddles to roasters.
As Morton caps off a decade of innovation and expansion, he shared more about Smithey’s evolution and what the next 10 years hold.
Creating quality cookware for the next generation
The inspiration to launch a cookware company came to Morton as more of a slow burn than a fiery spark — which is fitting for a manufacturer specializing in cast iron, a material famous for heating up slowly yet retaining heat remarkably well to ensure the perfect sear or bake…