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Orange County has had a good deal of fortune with aspiring chain restaurants making a big push within its borders. First came Halal Guys' West Coast debut, and now LA's own The Pie Hole will open up in Old Towne Orange.
This is the third location for the pie specialist, which currently has branches in the Arts District and Pasadena, but it will be the first franchise location. Mother and son duo Becky Grasley and Matthew Heffner along with business partner Sean Brennan have teamed up with Fransmart, the Newport-based franchise firm that is also working with the Halal Guys, to facilitate a massive expansion. According to The OC Register, The Pie Hole plans to open 200 shops in the next five years in Los Angeles, Orange County, Japan, and Qatar. Besides the upcoming Old Towne Orange location, five to ten shops, including branches in El Segundo, Hollywood, and Terminal 2 in LAX, are slated to open in 2016 alone.
This is good news for pie enthusiasts, who will likely be able to get a taste of The Pie Hole's popular maple custard pie on every block. Other The Pie Hole offerings include Mexican chocolate and Early Grey, and savory varieties such as mac and cheese and shepherd's pie.