Austin bakery Tiny Pies seeks community support in facing COVID-19 challenges

Local business owner Amanda Wadsworth was preparing to open a third Tiny Pies location, this one in West Lake Hills, in time for Easter; then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

In an effort to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, restaurants throughout the state closed their doors, and Tiny Pies, a small local business, was immediately impacted, according to a press release. The Westlake location opening was temporarily put on hold while the owners worked to keep their existing locations running.

Tiny Pies is now calling upon the community to lend a hand in a new fundraising initiative.

The bakery has been apart of the Austin community since 2011, and much of its success, Wadsworth said, can be attributed to continued support from residents.

Tiny Pies' new “Pie-O-Neer” initiative will allow Austin residents to become honorary founders of the new location through an online GoFundMe page. Customers also have the option on the Tiny Pies website to purchase a $100 pack, including some of the bakery’s more popular items. The pack will be available for pickup at the South Lamar or Burnet location through June 30.

The business is working to raise $25,000 to offset the costs of the location’s build-out, and all funds raised will go towards the Westlake location, according to the release. The donation page launched June 4, and its total sits at $160 as of June 8.

“We are determined to open the shop regardless of the amount of money that we raise,” Wadsworth said in the release. “We’ve taken out a bank loan to offset the expenses for now, but [we] are hoping, with community [contributions], we can pay off that loan quickly so as not to incur a bunch of interest fees, which will make growth even more difficult.”

The Westlake location is gearing up for a new opening date set for late June. The location will share a storefront with an existing cafe, Blenders & Bowls, at 3736 Bee Caves Road, Ste. 8, West Lake Hills.