ANDERSONVILLE — After winning a national grant, First Slice Pie is getting a fresh rebrand. On Saturday, First Slice’s Andersonville location is hosting a party to celebrate and the first 50 people in line will win free pie for a year.
No, you can’t get pie every single day; that would be irresponsible, said Executive Director Ann-Louise Haak. But the first 50 people in line will receive a punch card that is good for a free slice of pie once a month for the entire year.
Founded by local chef Mary Ellen Diaz (who opened up North Pond in Lincoln Park and worked as an executive chef for Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises), First Slice Pie is a “quirky organization” that aims to give back and help feed those experiencing homelessness. It has three locations on the North Side in Andersonville (5357 N. Ashland Ave.), Ravenswood (4401 N. Ravenswood Ave.) and Albany Park (4664 N. Manor Ave.)
“Our name is not about our award-winning pie,” she said. “It’s about our commitment to give our first slice, the best cut, to people in the community.”
Through its outreach program, First Slice Pie provides 750 “quality meals” a week to help feed folks who might be hungry or experiencing homelessness.
Haak said being a company so focused on giving can make it hard to keep up with the marketing side of the business. She often is so concerned with being frugal that staff members have to twist her arm for small repairs around the shops.
“We want our money to go towards feeding bellies that would otherwise go hungry,” she said. “But we aren’t really great at the PR and marketing side of things.”
Now, thanks to a grant from AlphaGraphics — a national marketing service provider — Haak said their new look will better reflect the goals and mission of First Slice Cafe.
Haak didn’t want to give away any of the details about the rebrand, but she did say it would include menus that look more professional and a brand new logo.
The celebration begins at 10 a.m. and will include a confetti cannon, free pie bites and appearances from “local Edgewater and Andersonville celebrities” whom Haak has chosen not to reveal.
“It’s going to be a great celebration of community,” Haak said.