First look: American Pie Factory

(Credit: Josh Nash)

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In the 20-odd years Restaurant Row on Pelham Road has served suburban Greenville and Greer, many restaurants have come and gone. Now in 2009, nearly every type of cuisine imaginable can be found within a mile of the Interstate 85 interchange. But up until a month ago, there still was no go-to spot for pizza and wings.

Recognizing the dearth of options in the area, veteran Greenville businessmen Joe Mahaffey and Ron Mueller stepped in to open American Pie Factory. Drawing from their experiences with youth baseball and soccer teams, Mueller and Mahaffey have created a family-friendly sports sanctuary; a haven for post-game meet-ups that also offers big-screen TV’s and a bar for the full fan experience.

After renovating a previous restaurant’s space, American Pie, located at 103 Beacon Drive, began a soft opening during the first weekend of March Madness. With business now at a steady clip—and a full grand opening planned—their dedication to the community has the Eastside crowd responding in kind.

“This is one of the premier locations in all of Greenville,” says Mueller. “Previously, there was nothing on this side of town for pizza and wings that wasn’t a buffet.”

All-you-can-eat it is not, as the Factory uses real New York-style dough in every pie, a type of breading based on harder water not found in Carolina reservoirs.

Attention to detail during the menu’s creation was paramount, according to Mueller. All of the pizza is hand-tossed, and ingredients are made from scratch. Custom pizzas are made to order, in addition to the 12 varieties of regionally inspired pies, including the ‘New Haven’ white pizza and the ‘Honolulu,’ with its smoked ham, pineapple and whole-milk styling.

“American Pie is something that Joe and I have developed from the concept,” Mueller continues. “We’d been involved in multiple businesses, but never restaurants.”

Despite early talk of expansion and the dedication to New York authenticity, the pair’s local roots remain evident. A newly minted Greenville favorite is the “Carolina,” a pie featuring smoky barbecue sauce, red onions, chicken, and a combination of mozzarella and Monterey jack cheeses. 

“South Carolina is the only state that recognizes all four bases of barbecue sauce,” Mueller says of the pie’s inspiration.

Also noteworthy are the 24 flavors of wings, featuring two original flavors, “Purple People Eater” and “Orange Crush,” made from grape and orange fruit jellies, respectively. Appetizers include standard fare such as nachos and cheese sticks.

Large-screen televisions factor prominently in the restaurant’s full bar. Twenty-four beers are featured on tap, including varieties from Spartanburg microbrewers R.J. Rockers. During happy hour, from 4-7 p.m. daily, drafts cost $1.75 and house liquors are $2.

Another long-term goal for the restaurant is to use their 50-seat private dining area to host team and club sports banquets.

American Pie Factory is open daily from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Items on the menu run from around $10 to $20.

Click here, for a photo tour of American Pie Factory.