A bakery built almost entirely around pies, turning out roughly 300 of them on an ordinary day and even more during the holiday rush. Just crust, filling, and a whole lot of focus.
The lineup runs from peaches and cream to buckeye pie, which is about as Ohio as dessert gets. There are cream pies piled high, fruit pies, and seasonal flavors that rotate through the year.
Then there are savory pot pies, sold frozen so dinner can bake at home.
I have to admit, making around 300 pies a day sounds impressive enough, but the holiday rush takes things to another level. Customers have been known to line up before sunrise, hoping to get their favorites before the shelves empty.
I love the idea of a small family bakery becoming such an important part of Thanksgiving traditions. When people are willing to stand outside in the early morning cold for a pie, I think that says more than any advertisement ever could.
A Shop Brave Enough to Sell Only One Thing
Owner Peter Sterk has built a remarkable operation around one specialty. According to a 2023 report from Delaware County’s tourism organization, the bakery produced about 300 pies on a typical day, with holiday demand pushing production even higher.
Thanksgiving brings a particularly impressive scene. Customers have been known to start lining up as early as 6:30 in the morning, long before the bakery opens its doors.
During the busiest holiday periods, the line can stretch down the street.
Here, every shelf and every oven points in one direction. Fruit pies, cream pies, seasonal pies, and savory pot pies share the spotlight.
I like a place that knows exactly what it is. You never have to wonder what to order.
You only have to decide which pie, and honestly, that part is hard enough.
The family-run feel matters too. It’s a mom-and-pop operation, not a chain with a corporate recipe binder.
That gives the place a hometown personality that big grocery bakeries can’t fake.
The menu also stretches across sizes. Small, medium, and large pies are part of the lineup.
So a solo snacker and a holiday crowd can both leave happy.
Pie is a simple dessert on paper. Doing it well, over and over, is the hard part.Owner Peter Sterk has built a remarkable operation around one specialty.
According to a 2023 report from Delaware County’s tourism organization, the bakery produced about 300 pies on a typical day, with holiday demand pushing production even higher.
Thanksgiving brings a particularly impressive scene. Customers have been known to start lining up as early as 6:30 in the morning, long before the bakery opens its doors.
During the busiest holiday periods, the line can stretch down the street.
Buckeye Pie Is Basically the State Dessert in Disguise
Chocolate and peanut butter. In Ohio, that pairing practically counts as a family heirloom.
The buckeye candy is a local legend, shaped to look like the nut from the state tree. So it makes perfect sense that Just Pies turns that flavor into a full pie.
Buckeye pie sits among the most talked-about options at the shop. It takes the beloved candy idea and gives it room to stretch out in a crust.
That makes it a smart pick for holiday tables. Out-of-state relatives get a taste of Ohio tradition.
Locals get a dessert that feels like home.
Peanut butter fans have another route too. The bakery also offers a peanut butter pie.
That’s good news for anyone who wants the nutty side without as much chocolate.
Here’s a fun bonus for game days. Buckeye pie fits right in with scarlet and gray parties during football season.
It’s dessert and team spirit in one slice.
Fair warning, though. Sharing a buckeye pie at a family gathering can get competitive fast.
Fruit Fans, Your Crust Is Calling
Peach, cherry, blueberry, apple, rhubarb. That’s just the warm-up list at this Ohio pie shop.
Fruit pies are a big part of the menu at Just Pies. They’re the classic choice for anyone who grew up with a pie cooling on the counter.
Peach pie and peaches and cream are both popular picks. Rhubarb and strawberry rhubarb bring that tangy kick some people crave each spring.
Apple fans have options too. There’s a traditional apple pie, plus an apple crumb version with a crumbly topping instead of a top crust.
Then come the berry blends. Triple berry and bumbleberry pies mix several fruits into one filling.
They’re great when the family can’t agree on a single flavor.
My tip is to pick one familiar flavor and one wild card. Cherry plus bumbleberry feels like a strong plan.
You get comfort and adventure in the same bakery box.
Tall, Creamy, and Topped With Clouds
Cream pies are the drama queens of the dessert table. They show up tall, fluffy, and impossible to ignore.
At Just Pies, the cream lineup covers plenty of ground. You’ll find key lime, lemon meringue, butterscotch meringue, French silk, and peanut butter.
Key lime brings a tart and creamy balance. Lemon meringue adds that golden, toasted topping that looks like it came from a grandma’s cookbook.
Butterscotch meringue is a true old-school flavor. You don’t see it in many bakeries anymore, which makes it a fun find.
French silk is the chocolate lover’s pick. The shop has even offered specialty versions, like one with cookies and mint mixed in.
That’s a lot of personality for one pie.
Cream pies need a little planning. Keep them chilled and get them home soon after pickup.
A hot car is no friend to whipped topping.
They also make a great second dessert at holiday meals. Pair one cream pie with one fruit pie, and everyone at the table is covered.
Dinner Counts as Pie Here, Too
Not every pie ends with dessert. Some of them end with a fork and a full stomach at dinnertime.
Just Pies sells savory pot pies, and they’re a big reason people stop in. Chicken pot pie leads the pack, with turkey, beef, broccoli and cheese, and vegetarian options joining the lineup.
Many of these come frozen. You take them home and bake them in your own oven.
That means a hot homemade-style meal without chopping a single carrot.
Family-sized pot pies are available, which helps on busy nights. Smaller sizes work for couples or anyone eating solo.
Think about the week after a big holiday. Everyone is tired, the fridge is a mess, and nobody wants to cook.
A frozen pot pie in the freezer feels like a gift to your future self.
Give the baking enough time, though. A large frozen pie needs a long stretch in the oven.
Start early so dinner doesn’t turn into a late-night snack.
Pot pies also make thoughtful gifts. New parents, busy neighbors, and friends recovering from a rough week will all appreciate one.
It’s comfort food that comes with its own crust.
Small Pies Solve Big Family Arguments
One family, five favorite flavors, one table. That math rarely works out with a single giant pie.
Just Pies helps by offering small, medium, and large sizes. The little ones are perfect for testing new flavors or keeping dessert portions in check.
Here’s how a smart holiday order might look. Grab a large pie of the family classic.
Then add a few small ones in flavors that only one or two people love.
Suddenly nobody fights over the last slice of pecan. Grandpa gets his rhubarb, the kids get buckeye, and peace returns to the dining room.
The shop also offers no sugar added pies. That’s a thoughtful choice for guests watching their sugar.
Everyone deserves a seat at the dessert table.
Pies come fresh or frozen, too. Fresh pies are ready for the table soon.
Frozen ones can wait in your freezer until the right moment arrives.
That flexibility makes planning easier in a busy season. Buy fresh for the big day and frozen for later.
I love that the bakery thinks about real families. Not every household needs a ten-inch pie.
Sometimes a small one is exactly the right amount of happy.
Seasonal Flavors Keep the Display Case Interesting
Pecan pie in November just feels right. So does pumpkin when the leaves start falling around Ohio.
Just Pies rotates seasonal flavors through the year. That means the case can look a little different depending on when you visit.
Pecan pie is one of the shop’s well-known picks. It’s a holiday staple for many families, sitting proudly next to the turkey.
Spring and summer bring their own fruit moments. Rhubarb and peach pies feel especially at home in warmer months.
Fun fact for your next party. Pi Day falls on March 14, matching the first digits of the famous math number 3.14.
A pie-only bakery is a natural place to celebrate it.
Seasonal shopping takes a bit of strategy. Popular flavors can sell out, especially near big holidays.
For Thanksgiving or Christmas, contact the bakery well in advance about ordering deadlines. Holiday preorders may close before the busiest week, leaving walk-in purchases subject to availability.
Keep an eye on the bakery’s social pages for updates. New and returning flavors often get announced there first.
I think rotating menus make a bakery feel alive. You always have a reason to come back.
And trying a new seasonal pie is a sweet way to mark the calendar.
Plan Your Pie Run Around These Hours
The bakery normally opens at 9 AM, but holiday hours can begin earlier. During past Thanksgiving seasons, customers have lined up well before opening to secure their favorite pies.
Just Pies sits at 736 Northfield Rd #1, Westerville, OH 43082. It’s in the northern Columbus suburbs, an easy stop for many central Ohio families.
The shop is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 9 AM to 5 PM. It’s closed on Sunday and Monday.
That schedule matters during the holidays. If Thanksgiving dinner is on Thursday, don’t count on a last-minute Sunday pickup.
Plan ahead and mark your calendar.
Parking sits right out front, which helps a lot. Carrying a stack of pie boxes across a giant lot is nobody’s idea of fun.
Here’s a simple game plan. Call or check online for holiday ordering details.
Then pick a pickup time early in the day, when the case is fully stocked.
Bring a flat surface in your car, too. A cardboard box or a laundry basket keeps pies from sliding on turns.
Cream pies especially appreciate a gentle ride home.
Small steps like these make pie day smooth. The goal is simple.
Get every pie home looking as good as it did in the case.
Why a Pie-Only Bakery Belongs on Your Holiday List
Holiday cooking is a marathon. Turkey, sides, rolls, and dishes stack up faster than anyone expects.
Handing off dessert to Just Pies takes one big job off the list. That frees up your oven and your patience for everything else.
The shop holds a 4.7-star rating on Google from hundreds of ratings. That’s a strong score for any local bakery.
It also carries a long local history. Just Pies once had a location on North High Street in Columbus.
Today, the Westerville shop carries the tradition forward.
Think about everything one stop can cover. Dessert pies for the big meal, pot pies for the days after, and small pies for picky eaters.
That’s a lot of holiday stress solved in one trip. It’s like a cheat code for hosting, except nobody calls it cheating when it tastes this homemade.
Gifting is another easy win. A boxed pie makes a warm thank-you for teachers, neighbors, or the friend who always hosts.
I can’t imagine a cozier Ohio tradition than bringing home a bakery box at the holidays. Order early, pick your flavors, and let the pie do the talking at your table.
