Would you believe that Ypsilanti’s newest pizza joint was born from watching YouTube instructional videos? Sam Motheram, owner of Mama’s Pizza located at 5 N Hamilton St., said his business was born not from a deep culinary background, but from his being a pizza enthusiast and sharing his journey while emphasizing his freedom to innovate without franchise constraints.
The result of this learn-on-the-fly restaurant is a unique twist on the classic cuisine, serving fresh slices with bold combinations like chicken tikka masala and delicious sides like samosas.
“I love people, I love food and the most universal (food) is pizza. I watched a bunch of YouTube videos, then went asking everybody to show me how to make pizza. I offered to work for free at a business in Detroit,” Motheram said. “I filled ranch cups and mopped floors. My boss was 17 years old, and she could fold the boxes faster than I could. That is where I learned how to make the dough, select the right temperature and make different styles.”
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Since entering the Ypsilanti scene three years ago, the business has also become a Ypsilanti staple, thanks to its ability to connect with the community. Motheram, who has a background in real estate and car sales, said he purchased the location after learning the property had been empty for over two decades.
“This building was empty and boarded up for 20 years. DTE said there was no power,” Motheram said. “I approached the owner with an offer, and agreed, and now I have no boss. The only boss is my wife.”
Regarding pizza quality, he believes his attention to quality depends entirely on community feedback: gathering customer opinion on the pizza and making improvements if needed. This method of interaction has led to many successful combinations, like their Samosa pizza.
“(We make) Anything that comes to mind, and give slices to the customers, and they say yes or no. The customers are honest about it,” Motheram said. “If they say yes, we will put it on the menu; if not, we will keep working on it.”
However, while pizza is the name of the game, this year, Motheram has taken his community involvement to new heights. Between supporting the Ypsilanti homeless population by providing four free pizzas daily to the warming center in Depot Town and assisting those whose SNAP benefits were impacted by the Government shutdown in October and November by offering free food, he said the community drives his business and views Ypsilanti as family.
“We give out free slices. We have customers who have no money on their credit cards. So why hassle with slices?” Motheram said. “It’s not a lot of money. You have to see the happiness, the joy on their face, even if they have the money, pay me when you have it. If a family with one or two kids says they are on a budget, they can have the whole pizza for free. That helps, and it makes me feel good.”
During the interview, Motheram provided a lady walking in from the warming center with a free large pizza. He said the free slices boost sales temporarily. However, they often revert downwards, noting that he will “continue to do free slices for as long as we can and as long as we can manage.”
Approaching their fourth year in Ypsilanti, Motheram simply wants everyone to support Mama’s Pizza as best as they can, through sales or by social support. For more information, visit Mama’s Pizza on their website or by calling (734) 896-3843.
Antonio Cooper is a freelance journalist from Detroit, Michigan. His coverage of music festivals and interviews with local celebrities appeared in The E-Current Magazine, The Detroit Metro Times, XXL Magazine, RichMagDigital, The Ann Arbor Observer, and Pop Magazine.
