Katie Wibking with a “birthday pie” for her husband.

Last summer, Katie Wibking and her husband spent a week on beautiful Lake Michigan hanging out with friends and enjoying their wedding festivities.  The trip was made all the better when Katie stumbled upon Grand Traverse Pie Co. while exploring downtown Traverse City. During the trip, Katie and her husband ate at the Pie Co. no less than four times, and they even brought a pie home as a (quickly devoured) souvenir!

When the Pie Company ran their Up North Getaway Contest this last May, Katie eagerly entered. When she was notified that she had won the prize, she was delighted. Katie and her husband, who make their home in Tennessee, won a trip for two to Traverse City, a two-night stay at The Homestead, a hosted orchard tour by Dr. Nikki Rothwell, a private wine tasting at Black Star Farms in Suttons Bay, a hands on pie experience with GT Pie Company’s co-founders Mike & Denise Busley, dinner for two at Traverse City’s downtown bistro Amical, and free pie for a year (one pie shipped to Katie each month).

Katie plans on taking the trip in the spring of 2014, and she’s looking forward to visiting the Pie Company again.

View photos on Facebook of Katie enjoying her first pie of the month after winning the contest >

Operating a restaurant is a daunting task for anyone, but Amy has transitioned to it pretty well. She’s used to juggling schedules, meeting deadlines, handling a crisis or two, and doing it all while having to make sure everyone around her is happy. You see, Amy was a stay-at-home Mom for more than three decades, and she’s raised (or is still raising) 11 children.

Amazingly, Amy has homeschooled them all. The three youngest are still being homeschooled, and they help out when they can at the Pie Shop.

“They don’t seem to think Mom is nuts,” Amy explains. “They love it, my kids think it’s pretty cool.”

The oldest kids have moved on and are pursuing their own careers, a few of them are married, and in fact, Amy is a grandmother. When you have 11 kids, there’s never a dull (or quiet) moment. Add the activity of being a restaurant owner, and you have the recipe for a bustling daily agenda. Luckily, Amy’s years as a stay-at-home Mom to an army of children have prepared her for the rigors of running a business.

“I’ve developed good organizational skills,” Amy said, in what is probably the biggest understatement you’ll ever hear from a parent. “I tend not to procrastinate – I try to be a step ahead of what’s coming next.”

It was daughter Alison who was the first of the Westphals to be employed at the Grand Traverse Pie Company, working there as she made her way through nursing school. Amy also worked there part-time on-and-off for the last few years, and was approached by the previous owners a few years ago about purchasing the business. The timing wasn’t right then, but when the opportunity arose earlier this year, Amy pounced. Son Seth works at the Pie Shop part-time too, and is planning to expand his role now that Mom is the boss. The youngest kids flit in and out of the Pie Shop, helping where they can, learning the business, and meeting customers.

Asked what challenges she is most concerned with as a new business owner, Amy points to staffing. But with 11 kids, it seems she’ll probably be able to find some bodies somewhere to solve any issues. Like most parents, Amy rolls down the list of her kids names when asked: Kristi, Kyle, Paul, Andrew, Alison, Jacob, Abigail, Seth, Lydia, Josiah, and Anna. It just takes a bit longer than most.

Originally from the southern part of Michigan, between Detroit and Toledo, Amy and her husband moved to Petoskey more than 30 years ago. Amy’s husband is still employed at his job and plans a limited role at the Pie Shop. The Pie Shop is Mom’s gig, and she has ambitious plans for her new career as owner.

“I’m meeting lots of people in the community,” Amy said as she carved out a few minutes for an early morning interview from her Pie Shop located downtown. “It’s exciting to actually be the face of the Pie Company.”

In her first few weeks as owner, Amy has made an effort to reach out to her employees to offer training and praise. She’s also increased the baking schedule, which has resulted in an increase in sales. Baking more pies may be more risky from an inventory standpoint, but even when she has left over baked items, Amy doesn’t let it go to waste. She frequently brings extra items into the community to introduce her sweet tasting treats to new customers. She also has ambitious plans to expand the catering portion of her business this year. Her goal is to create a relationship with the people who are her neighbors in northern Michigan.

“I want to build the business here, and then reach out beyond that,” Amy says.

Nothing is ever certain in business and things can change rapidly, but Amy’s previous profession as “Mom, Wife, Chauffeur, Caretaker, and Matriarch of 11,” has more than prepared her for whatever lies ahead.

“I don’t know where this will lead me.”

Wherever it takes her, Amy Westphal will have a wealth of experience to help her, her employees, and her customers in her Pie Shop along the way.

Visit one of our 14 locations in Michigan and Indiana to get breakfast, lunch, dinner, or coffee, and top it off with a slice of this delicious pie.

FoodyDirect is a website that scours the United States for great food that’s available via delivery. Grand Traverse Pie Co. pies are proud to part of FoodyDirect, sitting alongside other tasty dishes from other corners of the country in many categories.

The website doesn’t just offer menu items from the vendors it selects, they provide a marketplace to present the vendor and its mission. The Grand Traverse Pie Co. page on FoodyDirect contains more than 15 pies, shipping information, a photo gallery, baking and serving instructions, and even the story of how the Pie Company got their start.

Items are priced the same as they are on the GT Pie online shop and most shoppers are eligible for $9.95 flat-rate shipping.

Some GT Pie locations offer a giant wedding pie in a large tin that produces pies ranging from 40 to 50 pounds! Contact your local Pie Shop to see if they offer this item.

All GT Pie shops can cater your wedding, providing pies for your guests. Order a variety of pies to offer several different flavors. Pick fruit pies made with Michigan-grown fruit and accentuate your wedding in the beautiful Great Lakes State.

Find the Pie Shop nearest you >

Making its debut this month, at each Grand Traverse Pie Company Shop are fresh new menu items chocked full of delectable flavors.

The new ‘Salad Wraps’ are a fresh and healthy choice; each are loaded with crispy salad ingredients in a tasty tomato, spinach or wheat wrap- baked chicken is always a great accompaniment on any of the new wraps.

Back by popular demand the tasty ‘Spinach Salad’ made with goat cheese, cinnamon roasted pecans, blueberries, and fresh apples.

Guests are also sure to enjoy the new ‘Asparagus Quiche Lorraine’ served with a fresh side salad. The quiche, a wonderful combination of eggs, milk and cream is complemented with the addition of asparagus, ham, Swiss cheese and other savory flavors all in a flaky crust the Grand Traverse Pie Company is known for.

Last, but not least, for the heartier appetite – there’s a handmade Cheeseburger Pot Pie. The new pot pie is a cheesy blend of burger, onion, fresh tomato, mustard and yes, dill pickles all inside the ‘to die for’ flaky crust topped with sesame seeds.

“Our reputation has been built on making amazing handmade pies. We have also been recognized for our excellent soups, salads and sandwiches. Our Limited Time Offers for this spring and summer are a perfect addition to our menu because it gives our customers some exciting fresh and healthier choices” stated GTPC Founder, Mike Busley.

The Grand Traverse Pie Company was founded in 1996 by Mike and Denise Busley in Traverse City, Michigan. The company is committed to using Michigan products and suppliers whenever possible, from agriculture to store furnishings; and the company strives to be a “connecting point” in each community served. An important goal of the Grand Traverse Pie Company is to provide amazing pie while positively affecting the communities they serve – Pie with Purpose.

Find a Pie Shop near you >

Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese
Baby spinach with blueberries, red onion, apple, pecans and goat cheese with honey mustard vinaigrette

Asparagus Lorraine Quiche with Side House Salad
Ham, swiss, red onion, fresh dill and asparagus

Wraps
Cherry Chicken Wrap
Cherry Chicken Salad ingredients tucked into a spinach, tomato or wheat wrap

Chicken Fiesta Wrap
Chicken Fiesta Salad ingredients tucked into a spinach, tomato or wheat wrap

Chicken Caesar Wrap
Chicken Caesar Salad ingredients tucked into a spinach, tomato or wheat wrap

Visit one of our locations to try these special items for a limited time.

“Today, Michigan celebrates two things that are critical to our continued economic reinvention– education and agriculture. Both play key roles in our vision for Michigan 3.0,” said Calley. “This is a fun way to raise awareness of the importance of math and science education in the lives of our youth, and also honor Michigan’s 55,000 farmers and the thousands of food and agriculture businesses who help feed us every day. Pi Day recognizes that with an educated and trained talent base, our future will continue to be bright.”

“As MDARD Director, my passion is to continue planting the seeds of entrepreneurship for rural development and watch our $91.4 billion food and agriculture system grow,” said Clover Adams. “As the second most agriculturally-diverse state in the nation, Michigan offers tremendous new business and growth opportunity around food and agriculture.

MDARD, Michigan Farm Bureau and the Michigan State University Product Center have partnered with the Michigan-based Grand Traverse Pie Company to commemorate the day. As part of the statewide celebration of agriculture and education, several Grand Traverse Pie Company locations will be offering customers in their store a free slice of a Michigan fruit-filled pie throughout the day.

“We are honored to work with entrepreneurs like Mike and Denise Busley in their quest to strengthen Michigan’s economy by investing in food and agriculture,” said Chris Peterson, director of the Michigan State University Product Center. “Pi Day is the perfect time to recognize that a strong foundation in science and math are an integral part of any business plan. And the Busley’s have struck a great balance between the hard and creative sciences to create a successful business worthy of celebration.”

Pi is the symbol for the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. Pi = 3.1415926535… With the use of computers, Pi has been calculated to over 1 trillion digits past the decimal. Pi is an irrational and transcendental number, meaning it will continue infinitely without repeating. The symbol for Pi was first used in 1706 by William Jones, but was popular after it was adopted by the Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler in 1737.

“Our organization represents 48,500 farm families, and we all deeply appreciate that Governor Snyder recognizes the importance of Michigan agriculture,” said Wayne H. Wood, president of Michigan Farm Bureau. “His consistent support of our industry has been a real source of pride, encouragement and security for those of us who work to provide food, fiber and energy here in Michigan, across the nation and around the world.”

“Only through Michigan’s superior fruits and crops can we make our wonderful pies. Denise and I would not have been able to craft these Michigan fruit pies into a growing business without the quality education we received in Michigan; both in the public school system and at Michigan State University,” said Mike Busley, Co-Founder of Grand Traverse Pie Company. “Our commitment is to make amazing pie with purpose through the bounty of Michigan agriculture; and our economic responsibility is to give and to grow by cultivating positive relationships – just as we are doing with today on Pi Day.”

Petoskey GT Pie Co. owner Scott Byrd in his shop on Pi Day, wearing the tie to honor his former math teacher.

Almost everyone referred to Mike McLaren as “m2″, which was appropriate considering how passionate he was about numbers.

A math teacher at Grand Blanc High School for more than 35 years, McLaren had a special relationship with his students that transcended the classroom. Among those students were Scott Byrd and his wife Jennifer, who now own the Grand Traverse Pie Company in Petoskey. In early March, the Byrds served pie from their shop at McLaren’s memorial service, honoring a request from their former teacher.

“When his health was failing, Mr. McLaren asked me if I would serve pie at his memorial service,” Scott said recently while manning the front counter at his pie shop in northern Michigan. “He served pie on National Pi Day in his classroom for as long as anyone could remember.”

McLaren passed away on February 14, prompting an outpouring of responses from former students and colleagues. Scott and Jennifer attended his memorial service in Grand Blanc to fulfill their promise to McLaren, but they got something more than they expected, and they plan to pass it on.

“Another former student spoke at the service and mentioned that they had given Mr. McLaren a “Pi” tie some years earlier. Mr. McLaren would wear that tie on Pi Day when he served pie in his classroom,” Scott said. “When Jennifer and I left the service we opened a gift bag and card that were given to us by Karen – Mike’s wife – and inside was the Pi tie. I will wear that tie in my pie shop this March 14 in honor of my former teacher.”

March 14 (3/14 or 3.14) is recognized as National Pi Day, a holiday celebrated enthusiastically by educators and mathematicians. But it’s also a great excuse to eat pie. Many teachers take their kids to the Grand Traverse Pie Company to celebrate the “geeky holiday” that pays honor to Pi – defined as the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter.

“We have teachers come to our shop every year and we hand out pie,” Scott said. “It’s sort of a field trip for them.”

Byrd has operated the GT Pie Company shop in Petoskey since 2006. This year on March 14, Pi Day will have a special meaning for him and his wife.

“It was a rewarding experience to be able to serve pie at Mr. McLaren’s service,” Scott said. “[For him] teaching was everything. He didn’t have any hobbies or children of his own, and he committed himself to teaching. He connected with his students, and he cared about us.”

Visitors to Byrd’s pie shop in Petoskey on March 14 will receive a free slice of pie (made with real Michigan fruit) with any purchase. And they’ll get to see Mr. McLaren’s “Pi tie” in person around Scott’s neck.

As part of the statewide celebration of agriculture and education, every Grand Traverse Pie Company location will be serving up a FREE slice of Michigan fruit pie with any purchase during the entire day on Pi Day 3.14, Thursday, March 14th.

Read the press release with more details about GT Pie Co., the State of Michigan, and the Pi Day celebration >

About Pi
The symbol used by mathematicians to represent the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter is the Greek letter π. That letter (and therefore the number π itself) can be denoted by the Latin word pi. In English, π is pronounced as “pie”.

The number π  is a mathematical constant that is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, and is approximately equal to 3.14159.

Online Pie Giveaway
On March 14, (3.14), GT Pie Co. will be giving away pie all day long on their Facebook page. Watch for details as Pi day approaches.