First look: High 5 Pie shop readies for oven-fresh Capitol Hill debut

Just over 12 months ago, Fuel Coffee entrepreneur Dani Cone put an idea for a new business in the oven. Thursday night, that idea will be fully baked -- with a Grandma Molly-approved buttery, flaky crust, of course. Cone opens her new High 5 Pie shop at the corner of 12th and Madison with a "sneak peek" party for everybody Thursday night. Details on the new shop -- and Thursday's party -- below.

CHS visited a shop still in the process of being pulled together for Thursday's opening, a Skil saw where a pie cutter will be later this week. Cone said it was the first time she'd had a view out the windows of the new shop. Out the windows, she can see the apartment building at 13th and Union where her grandmother Molly once lived.

Molly gets a lot of credit at High 5. It's her crust recipe Cone and her investors are banking on -- that crust and an $82,000 build-out, according to city records, of the south corner of the Trace Lofts retail space. High 5's neighbor, fitness studio Barre3, has already opened in the new retail spaces at the location. Later in 2011, self-serve dog wash Rex will join the party. By the way, Fuel -- and now High 5 -- is a longtime CHS advertiser.

The new 2,100-square-foot bakery and cafe will feature seating for 20 customers along the counter and around a pie-shaped butcher block table. In the back, workers will be busy baking an assortment of High 5 pies in an insane number of form factors: Cutie Pies, sweet and savory Piejars, Flipsides, deep-dish pies, Piepops, Petit-5s, pies by the slice, cookies (including gluten-free), vegan quick breads, buttermilk biscuits and breakfast Flipsides. What? No pie baked in a cake? Better DM @bakeitinacake, super fast. Of course, given Cone's Fuel Coffee empire and her experience as a barista, there's a custom-painted espresso machine in High 5 teal. We also noted a sales freezer full of Bluebird and Molly Moon ice cream pints should you want your pie to go a la mode.

Right now, Cone is busy getting to know her new oven. She says the relationship is a work in progress.

High 5 Pie is at 1400 12th Ave. (on the corner of 12th Ave. and E. Madison). You can learn more at www.high5pie.com

High 5 Sneak Peek (open to media and public)
Thurs., Dec. 30
6 – 8 p.m.

High 5 Pie Grand Opening
Fri., Dec. 31
6 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Hours:
Mon. – Thurs: 6 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Fri.: 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sat.: 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sun.: 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.