Oxford has a national celebrity right in its own backyard.
The Achatz Handmade Pie Co., located in downtown Oxford, was recently highlighted on The Food Network’s “TOP 5” specialty show as the number one pie company in the nation.
“This is the first time we’ve ever been featured in something like that,” said co-owner and founder Wendy Achatz, who also has a homebase-store in Armada and another in Troy. “I was really happy with how it turned out – we got I’d say between four and five minutes.”
Becoming a national celebrity was never in the plans of company owners, in fact, Achatz said the opportunity just seemed to fall in their laps.
“(The Food Network) was just calling all these little pie shops across the nation,” said Achatz. “They said they found us through our website, which just goes to show you the importance of having a website in today’s day and age.”
Achatz said her husband took the initial phone call from the network – and thought it was a joke.
“They were asking him what makes our company unique and he was telling them about our recipes… but they didn’t seem to be interested in our ingredients,” explained Achatz. “He just went on to talk about what we do with fund-raisers and our corporate gifts and such.”
Finally, the Food Network representatives heard what they were looking for: Achatz Handmade Pie Co. features a wedding pie service. Company owners had added the specialty service after several customers requested the unique treats.
“We had done a few wedding programs when the Detroit News got wind of us and did an article,” explained Achatz. “I was so proud of the piece that I blew it up like four feet by four feet and hung it on the board. The whole time my husband was on the phone he was like looking at this and it didn’t dawn on him to mention it until the end.”
But that one comment is all the network needed. Two weeks later and the pie company owners were preparing for filming. Achatz said the biggest problem was finding a bride and groom willing to let a camera crew crash their reception.
“We were lucky enough that Becky (Grucz) was getting married and had already arranged for us to handle her wedding,” Achatz explained. For the reception, the Achatz Pie Co. created a huge tiered display that featured a mixture of round pies, sheet pies, pie slices, greenery, tulle and lighting. The single slices were individually boxed and decorated so that reception guests could take a sweet treat home. All in all, enough pie was available to serve 250 people.
“Becky and Dave were just wonderful. I was so happy to have Becky as the beautiful face to represent our Food Network debut,” said Achatz.
The three-person film crew arrived at the Armada store on July 11. The pie shop owners had prepared a big welcome which included their friends and family, as well as a luncheon and banner saying “Welcome Food Network.”
“We had a lot of people come and welcome them,” said Achatz. “The whole (day) was so windy, we were trying to hold the tents down for the luncheon, but it turned out well.”
Wendy Achatz was hooked to a microphone for about four hours, and the crew taped at the store for between five and six. Afterwards, the film crew took off for the reception where they filmed for another four hours, with an hour of the work during the actual reception. The finishing touch was an interview with a very tired Achatz.
“I was glad I wasn’t in it very much, I had to look exhausted by the end,” Achatz laughs as she remembers. “I was so tired by that point.”
The program aired on Nov. 18 at 10 p.m.
“We had a party with a lot of management and our employees that night,” remembers Achatz. “They didn’t tell us where we were in the lineup, so we were all curious and excited. I was just trying to remain calm.”
However, Achatz remembers missing the actual moment.
“When they announced who would be number two, everybody started yelling and shouting,” she said laughing. “I didn’t get it, I thought, ‘What did I miss?’ Then everybody is telling me, ‘They announced number two and it wasn’t us – that means we’re number one!’”
Achatz said she still held her breath though and waited for the actual segment. When the brief came on, she was overjoyed.
“We just had such a ball that night at my house with the party,” she remembers. “And it’s all because of the staff. We have such a great staff and everyone loves their job.”
Achatz Pies opened in Oxford this past June. The store sold just over 1,000 pies the day before Thanksgiving and has seen sales pick up since “TOP 5” aired.
“I think it really helped with the increase of sales here in Oxford,” confirmed Achatz. “We also received dozens of e-mails after each time the show was on and our “Pies that Fly” program on the Internet was getting lots of orders. We’ve even been contacted by U.S. Today for an article.”
For more information on Achatz pies, please call the Oxford store at 248-628-4010 or check out www.achatzpies.com.