In the small town of Yacolt, restaurateur Todd Millar has turned a pandemic-era project into a full-fledged culinary centerpiece. According to reporting by The Columbian, Millar constructed a custom stone and brick wood‑fired oven at Pull Caffé during the COVID‑19 lockdowns—a venture that has since become central to the café’s menu and identity.

Pull Caffé, already known among Southwest Washington coffee aficionados for its hand‑built espresso machines and meticulous roasting process, now adds rustic, fire‑kissed dishes to its repertoire. The oven enables the small Yacolt business to extend its craft philosophy from beans to bread, with every step emphasizing patience, materiality, and regional resourcefulness.

While Yacolt sits on the northern edge of Clark County, the café’s evolution reflects a broader movement in rural Southwest Washington toward hyperlocal production and resilient small business models that survived—and even thrived—through the pandemic’s economic disruptions. For Cowlitz County residents, the café’s trajectory underscores a pattern: local artisans adapting their crafts to sustain both livelihood and community character.

Pull Caffé’s example highlights how intentional craftsmanship continues to shape the region’s culture of self‑reliance, connecting small‑scale entrepreneurs across county lines through shared values of authenticity, endurance, and flavor born of fire.