After 10 years in the food truck business, opening a Polish restaurant in Port Richmond is a bit of a homecoming for the owners of Mom-Mom's Kitchen. The location is not only near the former cafe, but also in the area where Mama Mama herself (co-owner Caitlin Wine's grandmother, who just turned 101) attended church when she was growing up in nearby Blythesburg. .
It's also a chance for co-owner Ryan Elmore to rebuild some of Port Richmond's Polish heritage.
“I thought it would be really cool to go back to this area where there's a lot of Polish people and the food is undervalued,” Elmore said. “You can buy Polish groceries and things like that, but other than Dinner House, there's no one in Port Richmond that's actually serving Polish food in a restaurant yet.”
Mom-Mom's is one of two businesses moving to the former site of the Lunar Inn, a neighborhood bar at 3124 Richmond St. Mom-Mom's will be joined by Carbon Copy Brewing, which will serve craft beer. An opening date has not yet been set, but the company hopes to open within the next few months.
There's a 12-seat bar and 30-seat table inside, as well as outdoor seating and a courtyard. Carbon Copy has 16 taps offering beer, cocktails, wine and non-alcoholic options. Mama Mama's cooking can be ordered at the Kitchen Pass counter.
Elmore said he's still finalizing the menu, but plans to include Polish favorites like kielbasa and sauerkraut, as well as his signature dishes like seared flounder and liverwurst. Mom-Mom's and Carbon Copy Brewing will also collaborate on several menu items, including a Polish hop lager.
“I think with this, people are looking for a more casual environment where they're like, 'I came in for a drink, but I'm a little hungry,'” says Carbon Copy co-owner Kyle. Wallach said. “Having these options available in a more casual way is very popular and practical these days.”
Mom-Mom's and Carbon Copy are also taking over the former bottle shop space at the back of the property. For now, Wallach said she plans to use it as an additional dining area for private parties and Mom and Mom pierogi school lessons. Carbon Copy sells beer and wine to-go, but you'll have to serve it from the store's refrigerator.
The partnership between Carbon Copy and Mom-Mom's is the brainchild of developer A Frame Constructs. In addition to founding Martha's in Kensington and Sally's in Center City, owner Mike Purcell was the driving force behind the resurgence of the Richmond Street Corridor, including Laundromat Records, Schatzike Jewelry Studio, Creep Records, and Big. Top Vintage, Corpse Flower Tattoo, and 10 apartment complexes.
Carbon Copy opened its first location in West Philadelphia in 2022 in the former Dock Street Brewing space. The brewery operated a pop-up in Passink last summer, but the Port Richmond space will be its second permanent location. Wallach said he hopes Carbon Copy becomes a neighborhood staple and not “just a drop in the bucket” in a trendy, restaurant-heavy area.
Elmore said he's excited to move Mom-Mom's into Port Richmond's dining scene, which includes historic spots like Tacconelli's Pizzeria and new staples.
“Port Richmond has a great dining scene. Taconelli's is a place near and dear to my heart. I used to love going to Hinge Cafe, and there are new groups there like Gaul & Co. and Nemi. ” Elmore said. “I’m excited to join this new group of restaurant owners and make it our own here.”
Mom-Mom's and Carbon Copy Brewing are each available at the monthly Richmond Street Flea Market. Mom-Mom trucks make frequent appearances, and Carbon Copy Brewing has been approved for a pop-up bar at his April market.
Mom-Mom's and Carbon Copy's partnership follows the trend of other collaborations such as Human Robot and Poe's Sandwich and Joint Punch Buggy Brewing and Happy Bites. Wallach and Elmore said they are eager to work together and see what this partnership can bring.
“Beer and pierogies would be a great pairing. They're both very approachable and not very similar to highbrow,” Wallach said. “We both feel like it's an open canvas to create different flavors and offer them to people at an affordable price.”
