Fayetteville Pie Company: New owners, same beloved pies, now open for dinner

Kerry Washburn began working at Fayetteville Pie Company in August. By December, he owned the business.

Washburn and his wife, Jen, bought the cafe located in the Westwood Shopping Center from owners Leslie and Justin Pearson on Dec. 1.

Kerry Washburn worked around 15 years in the catering business before the couple moved from Atlanta to Fayetteville in January 2020 in search of "a slower pace of life," they said.

Unable to find work in the hospitality industry as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Washburn pivoted to real estate and in January 2021, became an agent with Keller Williams Realty.

But all that time away made him realize how much he missed the food industry. He built relationships while volunteering at farmers' markets, which in turn led to the gig working the front counter at Fayetteville Pie Company.

"It was like being back home," he said.

The Washburns said they were originally eying the former Wine Cafe spot (now The Sip Cafe) on Hay Street after it closed in September, but after hearing that the pie shop might be available, they jumped at the chance.

While the grand reopening and ribbon-cutting won't be until the end of January, the new owners are already making their mark.

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The biggest change is adding dinner to the traditionally lunch-only spot. On Thursday and Friday, the pie shop will stay open until 8 p.m. They plan to host nighttime events, including trivia every fourth Thursday of the month and Sweet Tea Shakespeare performances. Washburn said he's also adding beer and wine to the menu, with liquor a possible addition in the future.

The Pearsons opened the business in 2015 at 723 W. Rowan St. (now Fowler's Southern Gourmet) before moving to the Westwood Shopping Center two years later. Washburn said he knows the cafe already has a legion of fans, so he isn't looking to change too much. The recipe book, dubbed the "Pible", is still the same, and customer favorites, such as the pulled pork and sweet potato or the "gobbler cobbler," a savory Thanksgiving dinner pie with turkey, corn, potatoes, sausage stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauce, won't be going anywhere.

"We're just making what's existing even better," he said.

Fayetteville Pie Company is open Monday to Wednesday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, follow them on Facebook or Instagram.

Jacob Pucci writes on food, restaurants and business. Contact him by email at jpucci@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @jacobpucci or on Facebook. Like talking food? Join our Fayetteville Foodies Facebook group.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville Pie Company open for dinner, more changes with new owners