Pumachug
To say I was excited to see what would be taking over this large open space in our downtown is an understatement. If you haven’t gathered from the photos here on my website….I love food. And Pumachug seems to have the right idea for Clawson. Andrea and Tyler Williams had this to share about what they will be offering when I interviewed them back in April 2020:
“We've asked the community to submit a survey to tell us what they wanted, and we are proud to say we've organized our menu around the vast majority of requests. We will have simple, approachable, affordable food - executed with high quality fresh ingredients. We will have a thoughtful mix of beer, wine, and cocktails. Our restaurant will be an awesome neighborhood spot for both a casual happy hour or a fun date night. We can't wait to serve you!”
And if you’re just as eager as I was to know when they will be open….they are aiming for early August! In order to stay connected with them and their progress for this beautiful space, follow them on Instagram.
Another fun thing I learned when interviewing them for this project is the name, Pumachug.
“In the 1800s, there was a sawmill (our corner) and a cider mill on the corners of 14 mile and Livernois. As people came through town, they dubbed the area "Pummachug and the corners" because of the pumma-chug-pumma-chug-pumma-chug sound of the two mills. It was a nickname before Clawson officially became a city. Variations include Pummachug, Pummychug, and our choice - Pumachug.”
They have had support from the historical society to learn more about the area and their nod to the history. Learn more about Andrea and Tyler’s story of starting Pumachug in this prime corner location and stay in the loop by visiting their website!
I have since visited Pumachug now that they have been open for a little over a year. To be honest, it’s my go-to for a relaxed date night out or grabbing drinks with friends. I’’ve also had the honor or photographing their new brunch menu not that long ago. Tyler and Andrea are what my grandparents would call “salt of the earth.” They are hard working, deeply care about the quality of their food, and their community. Since opening they have welcomed their first son as well! I’ve shared my thoughts on their food but instead of sifting through my hundreds of reviews on Yelp, I’ll share my experience here.
“I have visited Pumachug several times but I will say that I am completely biased since I interviewed Tyler and Andrea, the owners, back in April 2020 for a Love Local Project that I created for downtown Clawson. They are some of the kindest and funniest people I've had the pleasure to photograph. They put their blood, sweat, and tears into this place. And it shines through their food. My recent favorites have been the fried chicken sandwich, the buffalo chicken sandwich, the cauliflower wings, any of their pizzas, the burger (chefs kiss), and the french dip. On top of their regular menu, they have a speciality brunch menu for the weekends. Let me just say, it was so freaking hard not to eat everything before I photographed it all for them. The chicken and waffles, avocado toast (I know, I'm basic), and the eggs benny. Muah! Trust me, give them a try, you will not be sorry!”
