Meet Bean & Pie: The CDA Shop Bringing Desserts to Market

BY JAMIE AQUINO

In 2017, Katy and Ethan Bean were working full time corporate jobs when they decided to start a very “un-corporate” business: baking pies with as many local ingredients as possible. Hustling in their small home kitchen whenever they weren’t at their day jobs, the Beans would tag team the pie-making process. Ethan would make and roll out the dough early in the morning, and Katy would fill and bake the pies from the time she got home and into the night.

The couple sold the pies anywhere they could: selling slices at a local brewery for “Pie and Pints” night, partnering with Coffee Roboto, a Coeur d’Alene mobile coffee cart, for special events, even inviting customers to come and pick up directly from their front porch. But local farmers markets would prove to be the tipping point for the Beans’ pie-in-the-sky dreams.

Katy started selling full-sized pies at the Kootenai County Farmers’ Market in downtown Coeur D’Alene and the Kendall Yards’ Night Market in Spokane. Katy says many marketgoers would stop at her stand to admire the 10-inch pies, but they all said the same thing, “I just don’t know what I’d do with a whole pie sitting at my house!”

Give these pies a hand

Soon Katy pivoted to selling individual slices of pie, only to realize it wasn’t the easiest or most convenient way for customers to enjoy the pie while shopping at the markets.

So Katy and Ethan decided to perfect handpies—each topped with their signature crumb—and they quickly became the Beans’ best-selling item. Customers were able to choose from a variety of flavors of the compact treats, but often resorted to buying one of each because they could be enjoyed while strolling around the markets or as a treat for later. Bean & Pie had begun to make its mark on the markets and was soon looking to make their next step.

From Farmers Markets to Brick-and-Mortar

In late 2019, Katy and Ethan started the process of building out a brick-and-mortar storefront in downtown Coeur D’Alene, moving into a space on Sherman Avenue with Evans Brothers Coffee.

Even with an official storefront, Katy didn’t want to stray too far from their original model. Because they are committed to supporting the local community, Bean & Pie continues to partner with local businesses from local farms to print shops and even candlemakers, and Katy and Ethan are always looking for ways to give back.

Recently, they have teamed up with Grace & Cakes, a non-profit that provides birthday treats to kids in foster care on their birthday. Bean & Pie also donates a portion of every cookie sold to local non-profits committed to supporting children, food-security and the environment.

Nowadays, Bean & Pie still sells its full-sized pies and handpies, but it has expanded its offerings to include smaller six-inch pies, cookies, pie-cups and treats for customers looking for gluten free and vegan sweets. Look for Bean & Pie in Coeur d’Alene and at farmers markets in Washington and Idaho all summer long.

About Bean & Pie

BEAN AND PIE
beanandpie.com
208.930.4065
504 E Sherman Ave
Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814

Related Stories