Woodman’s of Essex-A Yankee Tradition since 1914
It all began back in 1914 when "Chubby" and Bessie Woodman opened their roadside clam shack on the causeway in Essex, MA. At that time, the TV hadn't been invented, the average yearly salary was $750, and a gallon of mil cost 32 cents. WWI was just beginning, Babe Ruth was a rookie for the Red Sox, the fried clam hadn't been invented, and it took all day and a beach to cook a New England clambake.
A lot has changed since then… while Chubby may lay claim to changing only two of these, he made his mark in culinary history through inventing the fried clam and revolutionizing the New England clambake.
Chubby improved on the original "Indian" Clambake which required a beach-and digging a hole, heating the rocks, and waiting hours to cook. True to his entrepreneurial spirit, Chubby designed a method allowing him to boast-"We come to you and cook." He loaded everything onto a truck and drove to his customer's site where he cooked the clambake over a wood fire in large boiler pots. His new clambake system gave him the flexibility to travel throughout New England and serve groups of all sizes at their locations, enabling many more people to experience a New England clambake.
Today, 90 Years and Five Generations later, the Woodman name is synonymous with traditional New England seafood at its best. Zagat calls them "A cult classic-right up there with baseball and apple pie, this Essex icon is an enduring American cult favorite."
Keeping with Chubby's innovative spirit, the Woodman Family has grown with the times-and demand-yet still kept the Yankee Tradition live and strong. They have improved on the original clambake yet again by adding, "We Ship to You" to their expansive repertoire. So, Woodman's now offers the convenience of shipping clambakes-live lobster, steamers, corn on the cob, and their award-winning New England Clam Chowder-right to your door!
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