< Back to Oral History project: Pie in Arkansas

ORAL HISTORY

Mary Thomas

The Family Pie Shop

Coming from a large family in Biscoe, Arkansas, Mary Thomas began cooking at an early age. After many years making pies for a local restaurant, Mary opened The Family Pie Shop next to her house in 1977. Since then, she has served presidents and governors, and her pies have graced countless Thanksgiving and Christmas tables in Arkansas.

Mary and her husband began the shop after he learned to cook while serving during the Korean War and later as a shipboard chef with the federal government. For years, the couple worked together, serving both hot food and pies. After he passed away in 1992, Mary began focusing on pies exclusively. Along with special orders, her staples include coconut, egg custard, and chocolate pie built on her secret crust. Over the years, both her grandchildren and great-grandchildren have worked in her kitchen, learning the fine art of pie-making from their “Mae-Mae.”