From left, Paul McGruder, Amanda McGruder “Big Momma”, Glenda Brawley and Tim Brawley.
Amanda McGruder (“Big Momma”, as she is affectionately known to many) and her husband Paul are opening a new restaurant where Timberland Cafe in Bunker used to be.
McGruder has been on a path toward opening her own restaurant for a couple of years now—she even had a building selected and many of her friends and family were anticipating her grand opening but numerous obstacles continuously delayed her—now she is finally able to open this Friday.
Yep. That’s right, the grand opening of Big Momma’s Boughetto Bistro and Hotel is on April Fool’s Day, but it’s no joke. Big Momma said that they will be hosting a fish fry Friday—a special that she intends to be a weekly occurrence. McGruder said that the moniker “Big Momma'' has been with her since high school.
“I guess it’s because I was always mothering my friends,” said Big Momma. “I’ve always taken care of people.” Big Momma regularly hosts large groups of people and has, in many ways, become an influential young matriarch in the Bunker community. As a Bunker native, her love for the community outshines many of the people in the town.
McGruder is the literal Momma to her four children—but she routinely mothers everyone within shouting distance as her powerful and boisterous personality takes charge in almost any situation from being good-natured, quick and witty to being a no-nonsense sage of solemnity.
Big Momma’s personality is one of nuance and duality. She’s strong, yet kind; she’s down-home, yet classy in the best ways and she knows how to get things done, as well as take care of people. Like anyone, she has her flaws. But if you are fortunate to be counted among the people she has adopted, she has a tendency to be a bit like a mother bear with her cubs—displaying a fierce loyalty.
When asked about the name of her restaurant, she said “Big Momma has been my nickname for over 25 years and Boughetto is me—a little bougie, a little ghetto”.
Amanda McGruder “Big Momma” posing for a ceremonial passing of the check to purchase Timberland Cafe from Glenda Brawley who owned the restaurant with her husband Tim. Opening day will be April 1.
Big Momma is buying the restaurant from long-time staples of Bunker, Tim and Glenda Brawley. The Brawleys ran Timberland Cafe for just over three years.
“I think we might have been able to do it for another 30,” Tim Brawley quipped to the raised eyebrow of his wife.
“I don’t know about that,” she lightheartedly scoffed with a gentle grin.
“We decided that now would be a good time to get out of the business,” Mrs. Brawley told The Salem News. The Brawleys are assisting the McGruders with the transition. Additionally, the fact that Timberland Cafe is already a functioning and inspected restaurant allows Big Momma to open her doors as soon as she gets everything set up the way she wants and needs it to be. A task that she, her husband, her employees, the Brawleys and others have worked hard for in order to get everything ready by their grand opening later this week.
“I’m really excited to have people come on Friday,” said Big Momma. According to her, their new sign is scheduled to be installed some time during the first half this week. For an idea of what her sign will look like, take a look at the official t-shirt that Big Momma was sporting when The Salem News visited the in-renovation restaurant located at 142 E. Hwy. 72 in Bunker.
Some might be wondering if Big Momma’s grand opening will really be taking place April 1—but The Salem News got it straight from the source.
“We will be opening for fish fry Friday on April 1,” Big Momma confirmed.
Big Momma’s official t-shirt. Her new sign in front of the building will have the same design.
