Pies and small towns are symbols of everything that’s wholesome and good in American life.
From Mom’s famous apple pie to the traditional pumpkin pie after Thanksgiving dinner, the round pastries are ingrained in the fabric of our society.
From the fictional Mayberry, North Carolina to our very own Oxford, Michigan, small towns remind people of simpler, quieter and more pleasant times.
It seems only natural that the Armada-based Achatz (pronounced ‘a kits?) Handmade Pie Company would open a retail store right in the heart of downtown Oxford.
‘We were thinking about going to Birmingham or Bloomfield Hills or Grosse Pointe, but we really liked the small town atmosphere in Oxford,? said co-owner and founder Wendy Achatz, of Armada, whose new pie shop opened June 19. ‘It seems really friendly.?
Located at the southeast corner of N. Washington and East streets (next door to Harmon AutoGlass), this is the third location for the 10-year-old pie company. The business office/wholesale outlet is located in Armada and the other retail store is in Troy.
Achatz said she and her business partner and husband of 20 years, Dave, selected Oxford because of the downtown’s appearance.
‘The downtown area seemed to be kept up very well,? Achatz said. ‘It looks like you’ve restored your downtown. It looks like the businesses are trying to clean up the historical buildings. We thought it was a nice community where people cared.?
Being members of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Orion Township had already made the couple familiar with the area.
The Achatz Handmade Pie Company offers 35 to 40 flavors of pie that change seasonally including berry pies, cream pies, fruit and nut pies and specialty pies.
‘We don’t make every single flavor, every single day,? Achatz said. ‘We do make about 20 to 25 different flavors every day. We’re constantly changing recipes. We’re always experimenting with new things.?
Pies are sold by the slice, the standard 10-inch size and 12-inch by 17-inch sheet pies called ‘party pies,? which are available for company parties, weddings, baby and wedding showers, birthdays, anniversaries, communions and graduation parties. Ordering party pies does require 48-hour notice.
The company’s ‘signature pie? is called the ‘Michigan 4-Berry,? which contains cherries, blackberries, blueberries and raspberries. It was voted ‘Best Pie in America 2001? (berry category) by the American Pie Council.
The Detroit Free Press named the Achatz Handmade Pie Company ‘Best Pie in Detroit? for 2001 and 2002. The pies were voted ‘People’s Choice for Best Dessert? in the 2002 and 2003 Taste of Troy.
Achatz explained the secret behind her pies? popularity and success.
‘Every pie is made totally by hand,? she said. ‘We don’t use machines.?
The recipe for the ‘extremely flaky? crust that cradles all Achatz? pies comes from Aunt Mary Achatz.
‘We’ve got to get her name in because we owe a lot to her,? Achatz said.
When asked to describe the crust, Achatz replied, ‘It has a very plain taste. It’s not a sweet crust. It’s just kind of a basic shell to hold the filling. But, it’s very, very flaky and tender. It’s not overly powered with sugar or salt. We use a Michigan grown, natural, unbleached pastry flour and I think that’s really the key. We also don’t over-mix it.?
All of the crust is made with a non-hydrogenated all natural shortening, specially developed by a food chemist for the pie company, Achatz said.
She said the pie company’s shortening does not contain any trans-fats, which are known to contribute to heart problems and strokes.
Achatz Handmade Pie Company doesn’t use any ready-made, precooked pie fillings that are usually ‘loaded up with cheap corn syrup and water.?
‘We get our fruit brought to us either fresh or frozen,? she said, adding that it’s always ‘Grade A #1, never seconds.? ‘We then add our own sugars and startches.?
Achatz pies contain pure vanilla, fresh butter and eggs, steroid-free milk and non-GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) products.
Chances are you may have already purchased and eaten an Achatz pie if you shop at the Chicago-based Whole Foods Market, the pie company’s ‘largest wholesale customer.?
‘We supply their five stores from Ann Arbor to Rochester,? Achatz said. ‘We also supply their 10 stores in the Chicago area.?
All Achatz pies are available anywhere in the continental United States by mail order through two-day Federal Express.
In addition to pies, the company offers cheesecakes, breads, brownies, bars and cookies.
The Achatz Handmade Pie Company is located at 40 N. Washington St. and is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The store is closed on Saturday. For more information call (248) 628-4010 or visit the company’s website at www.Achatzpies.com.