22-02-2025
Black-owned pie shop celebrates 40 years in business
(NewsNation) — New York City's beloved 'Little Pie Company' run by Arnold Wilkerson has been satisfying the sweet tooth of many in the Big Apple for four decades.
Wilkerson started his company during the 1980s after former President Ronald Reagan said at the time that it was 'the year of the entrepreneur.'
Taking it to heart, Wilkerson began making pies and hasn't stopped since.
Ahead of next month's Academy Awards, the 'Little Pie Company' has made Oscar sandwich cookies, as well as Oscar red velvet whoopies.
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Many of the pies use recipes from Wilkerson's mother and grandmother. Staples include apple pie, pecan pie, mud Mississippi pie and the signature sour cream apple and walnut pie.
It has an all-butter crust with thin slices of granny smith apples, brown sugar, walnuts and cinnamon.
'We've enjoyed very much the support that we get from the Black community, and that we get from the community in general,' Wilkerson told 'NewsNation Live' on Saturday.
'I live in a theater neighborhood over on 43rd Street, and so it's a very mixed neighborhood, and we have many customers from every race.'
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The prices of eggs are affecting 'Little Pie Company,' but Wilkerson is not willing to increase his prices and let it hurt the pockets of his customers.
'We can't do that right now because everyone's suffering, so we have to just take that loss as much as we can,' he said.
'If you begin with excellence, stick with excellence, and that's the thing to do,' Wilkerson advised hopeful entrepreneurs. 'Don't make any compromises on your product. Earn your reputation, keep your reputation.'
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