Pier Village, get ready to flip for flap-jacks like you’ve never experienced before. Multi-hyphentate Shanyah Griffith-Rumph is bringing her unique, hot cakes-centric concept Buttermee Pancakes to the neighborhood later this year, reports local media outlet Asbury Park Press.
Griffith-Rumph explains to What Now Philadelphia that the 8 Ocean Avenue location has been on her radar for some time. “I absolutely loved PIer Village before I decided on Asbury Park” she states. “Pier Village was right behind it.”
Griffith-Rumph didn’t begin Buttermee with aspirations of becoming a chain. She states: “I wasn’t so sure that I would open a brick and mortar to begin with, so I knew I couldn’t do more than one at a time.”
A Pier Village location wasn’t immediately available for the unusual concept, however, as time progressed and Griffith-Rumph proved the eatery was viable, opportunity came knocking. Griffith-Rumph explains: “When they had some space for us this year, they called and I couldn’t say no.”
Buttermee Pancakes sprang, improbably enough, from Griffith-Rumph’s antipathy for the titular dish. “I hated pancakes” she states. “I thought they were big and gross and had an uncomfortable mouth feel. I was getting my masters in clinical mental health and I decided to cook to offset some of the heaviness of the program. I decided to start making things I didn’t like, to see if I could make versions of them I did like. And I realized everything I like about pancakes I could amplify in a smaller form. I decided to share them with the world.”
While Griffith-Rumph always hopes to leave customers with a-literal-good taste in their mouths, she also strives to create a memorable and happy dining experience. “Our goal is always to elicit joy.” she says. “We want it to feel like a warm hug on a Sunday morning every time you come in. We like to have a fun time.”
Established fans of Buttermee can look forward to enjoying all of their favorite options at its Pier Village location. Guests will have the option of enjoying their meals in-store, though table service will not be available.
Griffith-Rumph is aiming for an early April opening for Buttermee’s Pier Village debut.
