West Seattle food: A la Mode Pies has a Junction shop in the oven

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(Photos courtesy A la Mode Pies)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The West Seattle Junction’s pieshoplessness will soon be over: A la Mode Pies is expanding this way.

Proprietor Chris Porter just signed the lease for a prime spot in Junction 47, facing SW Alaska just east of California.

A la Mode will be the first pie shop in The Junction since Shoofly closed almost two years ago.

It will be the second café/bakery for A la Mode Pies, joining the Phinney location.

We talked with Porter by phone to get the scoop on what the café will be like.

Pie, of course – “15 varieties, available by slice and whole pies – also petite pies, Pie Babies, LolliPies” – special types of mini-pies that are exclusive to A la Mode – “homemade quiche every morning, savory products down the line …” Some gluten-free offerings. And ice cream, too – a new, exclusive-to-A la Mode brand. (Here’s A la Mode’s current menu.)

The West Seattle café will be about twice the size of A la Mode Pies’ Phinney location, around 2,000 square feet – see the layout in this PDF.

“There’ll be counter seats along the front window, a large bar inside that people can sit at … this is really designed to be a community meeting place” as well as a “dessert experience.”

And yes, everything will be baked on site. “We’re designing it in a way that really celebrates what we do best, which is pie, so the actual process of making pie is part of the design – (customers) will be able to see bakers making pies in front of them. … All our pies are made the same day they’re (served and/or) delivered. … Come September, which is when we’re opening, that whole block is going to smell like apple pie.”

It’s an experience for your senses beyond taste and smell, Porter notes: “Pie is nostalgic, reminds us of our childhood. Everyone has a rich history where pie has touched them in some way.”

But this isn’t going to be just a homey little café. It’ll have a kick. Porter is planning late hours – likely (though it’s not finalized) 8 am until “at least 11 pm or midnight … because I’m also going after a liquor license, for beer, and wine, and boozy milkshakes. … We do pie shakes, essentially a couple scoops of ice cream and half a slice of pie, all kind of blended together. We’re going to add liquor to them and take it one step further.”

Going even further than that – Porter will not just be happy to serve you, he’ll be happy to teach you how to make your own pies. He’s been doing that weekly at the Phinney location. While customers’ pies are baking, they get to taste three varieties, and “they leave with pie they made, a pint of ice cream, a cookbook, and a very full stomach.”

Porter is a former journalist who grew up in Seattle and describes himself as “one of those scrappy home cooks that just had a big idea … the fact that I’ve been able to pull it off to this degree is exciting, and lucky. I’m thrilled to be able to come to West Seattle.” A la Mode Pies started as a delivery business before Porter opened his Phinney café in 2011 (which baked 1,000 pies last Thanksgiving season, by the way).

Again, he’s expecting to be open in The Junction in September.

SIDE NOTE: Jason Miller, broker for the Junction 47 spaces, says they’re fully leased. What’s on the way includes, as previously reported, Kizuki Ramen and The Lodge Sports Grille; Starbucks and Bishop’s Barbershop have already opened. More updates ahead!

31 Replies to "West Seattle food: A la Mode Pies has a Junction shop in the oven"

  • A J April 28, 2016 (10:19 am)

    Welcome to the neighborhood!    Sounds wonderful – can’t wait to try some of these goodies

  • Paul April 28, 2016 (10:24 am)

    Where will all the big chains find space in the Junction with so many of these small busineses moving in?

    ;-)

    • Mickymse April 28, 2016 (4:34 pm)

      Since 2 out of those 5 are part of chains, that’s not a great win or loss for local business…

  • newnative April 28, 2016 (10:26 am)

    Awesome!! 

  • GM April 28, 2016 (10:36 am)

    WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • NAdmiral April 28, 2016 (11:00 am)

    Welcome to the Junction!  Looking forward to seeing you in September!

  • waikikigirl April 28, 2016 (11:11 am)

    Has it been 2 years already since Shoofly left us?!

     

    But welcome Al a Mode!  

  • Chris April 28, 2016 (11:22 am)

     Chris makes the most amazing pie !

     We are in for a treat 

  • JanS April 28, 2016 (11:25 am)

    want it NOW !

  • Pat April 28, 2016 (12:11 pm)

    Paul, we don’t need any big chains. Go to South Center if you need something from a big box. And pie ala mode, hope they plan on using Husky’s ice cream, if so they will get more devoted customers. Keep it in the Junction.

    • Wes C. Addle April 28, 2016 (12:36 pm)

      I think you need to enable your sarcasm detector ;)

    • JanS April 28, 2016 (4:44 pm)

      Pat….the article said they’d be using their own in house ice cream…

  • datamuse April 28, 2016 (12:12 pm)

    OMG this sounds wonderful! I have been jonesing for pie.

  • Trickycoolj April 28, 2016 (12:40 pm)

    Pie making class? Late night desserts and drinks? Shut up and take my money!! Can’t wait!

  • Westgirl April 28, 2016 (12:52 pm)

    I’m so excited for all the new places that are going in that space! Yay for pie!!!

  • JeffK April 28, 2016 (12:55 pm)

    We lived near the Phinney location a few years ago.  The Blue Hawaiian is my favorite!

    Sampled many of their other ones, all great!

  • cj April 28, 2016 (1:10 pm)

    Pie!!!  Welcome to West Seattle!

  • Tina April 28, 2016 (2:13 pm)

    I am SO excited about this.  A La Mode Pies did our wedding pies, and they were delicious and the staff were so friendly and professional.  Friends from out-of-town said it was the best pie they’ve ever had, homemade or store-bought.  We also gave Shoofly a try, but their customer service was not great and their pies were not as good (they were undercooked).  

  • Joe Bags April 28, 2016 (3:21 pm)

    Hope you are succesful. Rent must be high. That’s a lot of pie one would have to sell. I don’t doubt it’s good.

    • dawsonct May 8, 2016 (1:27 pm)

      If you own a food service business, serving booze is almost mandatory for success.
      Sugar and alcohol, where can I invest?

  • squareeyes April 28, 2016 (4:07 pm)

    Two savory items on the menu, which is actually two more than I expected to see. Perhaps you can branch out into chicken and beef pot pies or some other form of meal pie?  I love pie, but am likely to buy a dessert pie once in a few years.  A savory pie on the other hand certainly would increase the frequency.

    • dawsonct May 8, 2016 (1:31 pm)

      And/or pasties.

  • Mr. Moose April 28, 2016 (5:11 pm)

    You mention that it’s fully leased.  There’s still two more spots (on California next to Talarico’s, and on 42nd next to Fresh Bistro) that I haven’t heard about. Any word on those locations?

  • MJ April 28, 2016 (5:30 pm)

    Good news. This is the best pie in Seattle.

  • ACG April 28, 2016 (6:14 pm)

    Yum!!!!

  • Chrissy April 28, 2016 (6:27 pm)

    Our family had a mini celebration dance when we read this!

  • justme April 28, 2016 (6:51 pm)

    Yum! The past pie place just didn’t do it for me, so I’m super stoked for A la Mode!!

  • MamaC April 28, 2016 (8:27 pm)

    This makes me SO happy! Cannot wait!!

  • Susan April 28, 2016 (10:41 pm)

    I took one of their pie making classes a couple of years ago and it was really fun.  The teacher was knowledgeable and helpful and made rolling a pie crust totally accessible to a novice.  And the pie was incredible – even my novice pie.  Highly recommend for a group of friends to do together!  

  • DDelRio April 29, 2016 (1:54 pm)

    I second the savoury pies. Savoury pies would definitely bring me in. A good sweet potato pie would too!

  • Pielover May 3, 2016 (11:24 am)

    Try Adrienne’s cakes and pies for your pie fix. She is a local baker and has over 18 years of experience. She has a stand at the Farmer’s market every Sunday and does delivery for special order in West Seattle. Ask around, best pie around and made by hand the old fashioned way every time!

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