WEST TOWN — Come October, there will be a lot more Hoosier Mama pie to go around.
Paula Haney, owner of the 4-year-old Hoosier Mama Pie Co. in West Town, is opening an Evanston cafe that will serve not just her signature pie, but also biscuit breakfast sandwiches and savory hand pies.
Bagels will come from New York Bagel and Bialy in Lincolnwood, and bread for non-biscuit sandwiches from a baker yet to be determined.
That's half of it. Haney is partnering with Dollop Coffee, which will share the space at 749 Chicago Ave. in Evanston, the kitchen in the center of the room and the name out front.
"It's one new identity," said Haney, who lives in nearby Rogers Park. "Dollop and Hoosier Mama."
The two businesses already are culinary bedfellows. Dollop sells Hoosier Mama pies at its two cafes, 4181 N. Clarendon Ave. in Buena Park and 345 E. Ohio St. in Streeterville.
Customers at Haney's quaint, pint-sized West Town shop at 1618½ W. Chicago Ave. needn't worry. It will remain open and unchanged, Haney said, "until we make it bigger or move someplace close by that's bigger."
Haney said the lack of space is what's driving the expansion to Evanston. Savory hand pies are an infrequent offering at the shop because there is just not enough counter space to hold them.
Buildout of the new space on the ground floor of the AMLI Residential complex is starting now. Haney hopes to be up and running by Oct. 1, "because that's when we start taking Thanksgiving orders."
That'll be on the heels of the release of Haney's first cookbook, "The Hoosier Mama Book of Pie." Initially planned as a 200-page paperback, the 350-page hardcover is due out Aug. 15.
"I don't plan these things well," she said with a laugh.
