Page 103 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2024

Michelle Schenck and Sumer Steelman
Mother and daughter duo Michelle Schenck and Sumer Steelman are the brains and creativity behind The Crawfish House Seafood and Grill in Ocean Springs. As owners, they’ve introduced many new items this year.
“To cater to cravings when crawfish are not in season, we’ve added our Cajun Crab menu and launched The Snow Zone, offering a variety of snow cones,” says Schenck.
Steelman adds, “We are also introducing a new lunch menu priced at $9.99. These are our freshly created dishes.”
Schenck, who owned Tumble Buggy for 18 years and loves being a business owner, was inspired to be a restauranteur after dining at The Crawfish House in 2017. “Once we sold our business, I knew I would own another business one day;
I just wasn’t quite sure what it would be,” she says. “I fell in love with the restaurant and was certain that owning it would be my next business venture.”
Steelman served at a family-owned restaurant during high school and college. “I took pleasure in meeting new people and loved satisfying customers with delicious meals,” she recalls. “During my third year of teaching, my mother proposed a partnership at The Crawfish House, and I immediately knew it was the career change I desired.”
Both have had impactful moments in their careers. Schenck’s desire to take ownership of The Crawfish House was fueled by the cherished family memories created
there. Steelman always wanted to own a business because
her parents, who have always owned businesses, greatly influenced her.
Schenck’s favorite thing about work is the creativity it involves. “Witnessing the transformations we’ve implemented in the restaurant and the menu is so exciting,” she says. “One of the activities we love most is sitting in the office to brainstorm ideas that we believe our customers will enjoy.”
For Steelman, it’s the opportunity to work with her mom. “Family time holds immense value to me, and the ability to work alongside my mom is such a blessing. These are moments I know I’ll hold dear for a lifetime.”
Both ladies are devoted to God and their families and believe these are the most significant achievements in their lives. They make a point to prioritize them daily.
1801 Government St., Ocean Springs 228.215.1689 www.crawfishhouseos.com Facebook @The Crawfish House and Grill
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living | www.smliving.net September 2024 | 103