Online Business Turned Pie Shop Opens On Park Slope's 5th Avenue

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — A kickstarter campaign to turn her online pie business into a brick and mortar shop might not have been successful, but Lindsey Hill still found a way to bring her "love-filled" pies to Fifth Avenue.

Miss American Pie, a 50s-inspired pie shop and cafe, officially opened over the weekend at 86 Fifth Ave., two months after Lindsey Hill originally signed a lease for the storefront and started raising money online for her new business.

"The last few days have been very exhausting and stressful, but I am excited about the prospect of being open," Hill told Patch last week.

The shop will be the first storefront for the Miss American Pie owner, who has sold her pies online using a rental kitchen after leaving the fashion industry in 2016 to pursue her love of baking.

Hill had originally hoped to bring in $30,000 from the online campaign to help buy new equipment and renovate the space, but ultimately only gathered about $8,000 in donations. The campaign wasn't totally unsuccessful, though, she said.

"The kickstarter was not financially successful, but it did get me a lot of exposure, which I think was worth it," she said.

She brought in an additional $9,000 from friends and family, Hill added.

The new shop will create a 50s diner feel with a modern twist, she told Patch when planning the store.

The menu will feature a wide range of dessert pies, savory pies and other pastries, including gluten free and vegan options. Her best sellers so far have been a signature apple, peaches and blueberry pie with an oatmeal crumble and lattice crust on top or her coconut cream pie, which has a secret ingredient in its crust, she said.

Hill also hopes to create a community space in the new store. Miss American Pie will likely hold monthly community events, can be rented for parties and will feature local artists on its walls.

"Pie is a memory food — people want pie like their grandma used to make," she said. "In the fast pace of the city I think we're getting away from that. It's hard to even remember how great it is to sit around and eat pie together."