Pie Hole to mark ‘Pies-giving’ this weekend at Anaheim Packing House

It’s pie season, people. Those who consider dessert the main event at Thanksgiving dinner will be thankful for Pie Hole, the sweet and savory pie and coffee concept, opening its second Orange County location at the Anaheim Packing House.

“Our brand recognition in Orange County has been really strong since we opened in Old Towne Orange,” Sean Brennan, co-founder and CEO of the Pie Hole said, referring to the company’s first O.C. location. “We have had a lot of demand to open up more retail locations in Orange County.”

The concept began in 2011 in the Arts District of downtown Los Angeles, with crowds drawn to unique and popular pies like Earl Grey Tea, made with the brewed beverage, and Cereal Killer Cheesecake, made with fruity breakfast cereal.

The demand for the sought-after slices helped the concept expand to nine locations that include two in Japan and one in Saudi Arabia.

Throughout its growth, Brennan said the company has always aspired to a location at Anaheim’s Packing House. “Since the Packing House was developed and opened, we have always had our eye on it,” he said.

Brennan said the Pie Hole looks specifically for locations that are an extension of why the company serves pie and coffee in the first place, which is to bring people together. He said the Packing House’s ability to curate communal culinary experiences and create community, even during lockdown, was encouraging.

“They were very successful in staying open and having strong sales performance during the pandemic, that was really validating to us and our decision,” said Brennan. “They showed that they knew how to weather the storm and have a great sense of curating brands.”

To mark the grand-opening weekend, a “Pies-giving” ceremony will be held on Nov. 13 and 14, with the first 100 guests each day receiving a free slice of the Pie Hole’s most popular pies.

If you’re looking to score pie for actual Thanksgiving, you can preorder for local pickup or delivery and nationwide shipping online and at all locations, including Anaheim, until Nov. 19.

“Our holiday menu leans heavily on the classics,” Brennan said. “People have come to know us for the holidays as the place to go for pie, and we will not disappointment them.”

Moe’s pumpkin pie at the Pie Hole.

(Courtesy of the Pie Hole)

The holiday menu includes Moe’s pumpkin pie, Mom’s apple crumble pie and salted, caramel pecan pie. Savory pies, like a 9-inch turkey pot pie with a side of cranberry sauce, are available too.

Besides the new Anaheim location, the Pie Hole recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary by announcing the Pie Lab, a three-month accelerator culinary program in Southern California designed to help underserved and marginalized bakery entrepreneurs evolve their own food retail concepts.

“We want people in the communities around Pie Hole to be excited about going through a program where they can be mentored to develop their own baking brand, and we will support them all along the way,” Brennan said.

The Pie Lab selects eligible applicants through a lottery system and a need-based criteria. Persons in poverty or with a low socioeconomic status, those with disabilities or individuals who were formerly incarcerated are eligible candidates.

The Pie Lab provides assistance with the business infrastructure and resources to help those selected build their own brand and products, with access to in-house retail, marketing and PR from the Pie Hole. Any entrepreneurs in Orange County who sign up to be a part of the Pie Lab program will have the opportunity for shelf space at the Anaheim location too.

Interested entrepreneurs can submit their application online at thepieholela.com/the-pie-lab.

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