The family-owned, Southern-style bakery, Uncle Willie’s Pies, is getting a new storefront. The Dallas staple has been serving pies and other desserts across the area since it first opened in 1996 under the leadership of Willie Pettigrew, otherwise known as “Uncle Willie.”
Uncle Willie’s Pies second generation owner and creative director Cicily “CeCe” Waites told What Now Dallas that they are building the new storefront from the ground up at 31 1st St. in DeSoto. “We own the land. We’ll own the building,” Waites said.
Uncle Willie’s Pies originally started as a wholesale bakery, and they later opened a retail store in Red Oak but outgrew it. Uncle Willie’s Pies is currently offering pickup and shipped orders from a commercial kitchen, Jazzy Kitchen Rental on North Hampton. “Where the building will end up being is basically the next block over,” Waites said. They’ll move operations from the commercial kitchen to the new location to serve guests.
“It’s exciting. It’s scary,” Waites laughed. “A learning experience for sure—I’ll be a pro at building in Texas from the ground up. But, it definitely is exciting and rewarding because my dad is Uncle Willie. And, for him to be able to see a business that he started in the kitchen when I was a little girl, and now we own the property where the bakery is, that’s really exciting and rewarding.”
Uncle Willie’s Pies will continue to sell through wholesale partners that they’ve sold through since day one, as well as cater weddings. They plan to host small events and classes on how to make pies once the new storefront opens to the public.
“We’re known for our pies. Pecan pie is our number one seller. Peach cobbler is right behind it.” A variety of cake flavors, cupcakes, cheesecakes, banana pudding, and more are also offered. There will be limited seating in the new location to enjoy a piece of pie, and Uncle Willie’s Pies eventually plans to offer coffee and other beverages to enjoy. “If you have a last-minute celebration, and you need to grab something quick, we’ll have some desserts ready for you, as well.”
They hope to open by November of 2023 or early 2024, depending on construction. “It’s going to be a process to get to where it will be a physical building,” she said, “so everybody be excited with us and thank you for your patience in this transition. We have a lot of customers who visited us in Red Oak, and they’ve been anxiously waiting to be able to visit us in a retail-type of setting again, where they can walk in the door.”
Waites said Uncle Willie’s Pies plans to offer local discounts to veterans, first responders, and the schools. The business is involved in community outreach now, but she said they’ll be able to increase their activity in the local community and the chamber once the shop opens.
