KANSAS CITY, MO — Why would an Indiana-based pie chain open a new location in the heart of Kansas City, MO? For Angie and Chad Burns, owners of the new Be Happy Pie Co. franchise location, the answer is simple: KC is home, and pies were calling their name.
While the shop first opened in 2017 in Evansville, IN, founder Jenny Lamble wanted to share her 100% from-scratch pies with as many pockets of the country as possible. Thus, she opened the door to franchising, and Be Happy Pie quickly planted roots in Paducah, KY. When Angie and Chad reached out about bringing the bakery to the Show Me State, Jenny was confident the pair would do it justice.
“They’re such a dynamic duo,” she said. “For this model to be successful, you need a cohesive team of leaders, and Angie and Chad are a perfect fit. They’re business-minded and culinary savvy. I know this location is going to do very well.”
The Burns plan on proving Jenny right by upholding her commitment to quality. Everything on the menu — from the crust to the fillings — is made in small batches with fresh ingredients. The aforementioned dynamic duo saw the potential for this business model to work in the Gladstone neighborhood of Kansas City.
There are more than 26 sweet varieties on Be Happy Pie’s menu, including the Signature ‘Be Happy’ Cherry and the fruit-forward Bumbleberry, but the options don’t stop there. The bakery has also mastered savory dishes, offering Fiesta Taco Pie, Chicken Pot Pie and quiches daily.
The sweet pies offer classic comfort flavors while the savory types provide a take-and-bake option for quick-fix dinners. This mix of handmade and convenient, Angie shared, can’t be found at a typical pie shop.
“A lot of places might offer pie seasonally or as just one item on the menu, but there wasn’t a spot dedicated to doing both sweet and savory pies year-round,” she said. “Gladstone has such a strong sense of community and support for small businesses, so it felt like the right place for me and Chad to get started.”
The pie shop’s entry into the KC market was well-received, with a strong turnout at the May 15 grand opening. Each pie is offered in the standard 10-inch size, but to encourage trial and multiple-item purchases, the bakery also crafts 5-inch mini or 3-inch single-serve varieties. Orders for all sizes and flavors — especially key lime, a flavor KC customers couldn’t keep their hands off of — were coming in hot and steady.
“We really want to be part of the community, not just a place people stop in,” Angie said, “We love feeding people, and this gives us an opportunity to create a space where people feel welcome, connected and happy.”
