Pie House: The Fousts do it again!
Story by Steve Nussbaum | Photo by Erika Carter
Todd and Jilene Foust have a long history of coming to Possum Kingdom Lake, and the lake life runs deep in their veins.
Todd Foust grew up in Graham and has been coming to PK his entire life, while Jilene Foust has been coming to PK since 1991.
In fact, Possum Kingdom is what brought the couple together. One weekend Jilene Foust was out at PK enjoying a drink at The Cliffs with a client in her design business, and that’s where she first met her husband, who was at the lake working with a partner to open Boondocks. The two got to know each other, and Todd asked Jilene if she would stop by Boondocks before she left town and offer up any design suggestions she might have for him. Boondocks was under construction at the time, and he wanted her opinion. Never one to be shy, she met with him the next day and gave him her opinion of some of the things he needed to do to make the up-and-coming restaurant and bar a success.
That chance meeting started their partnership in more ways than one. After exchanging wedding vows, they owned the hugely popular Boondocks until 2016, when they sold the business to John and Jan Verdi.
Even though the Fousts live in Midland full time, they have always had a home and interest at PK, and in 2021 they decided to take on the challenge of the old Scenic Point restaurant near The Harbor.
The couple gutted the space and opened Hemmingway’s Craft House there in June 2021. The building had always had a large extra space for events or private dinners, and Hemmingway’s has been very popular with locals and weekenders since it opened – and this summer was even bigger than last year.
The idea for Pie House took shape this year over the Memorial Day weekend. The couple was in town for the busy holiday weekend and observing the operation of the restaurant. Jilene Foust went to the patio to relax for a minute and soon noticed the guests were not getting their food in a timely manner. She immediately went back to the kitchen to see what was causing the delay and discovered that 20 to-go pizza orders had backed up the service to the in-house guests. She immediately had the kitchen refocus on the in-house customers, because they needed to be the priority, then had the staff inform the to-go customers that their orders would be slightly delayed.
On that night, the concept of the Pie House was born, which led to the rarely used event space being turned into a quick-service pizzeria.
Pie House opened in early October and is located with its own separate entrance next to Hemmingway’s. The pizzeria features additional pizza ovens and its own kitchen, which will allow for faster and more efficient service in both restaurants.
Jilene Foust has kept the décor of Pie House unique and stylish, and the focal point of the restaurant is the “instagramable†wall mural, along with a large front counter. There are eight tables, so guests have the option to eat at the Pie House or in their own homes.
The Fousts noted that the Pie House has an app that customers can use to place their orders for speedier service. The app will remember the customer’s favorite orders, which should help streamline the ordering process.
Pie House offers three pizza sizes, available in either a thin or regular crust, and it has developed a collection of artisan pizzas for those that want to try something different, although traditional toppings are always available. The menu includes a collection of salads and “cheesy bread†to accompany the pizzas, with a cauliflower crust pizza available for a healthier option, too.
Pie House is set up for delivery to customers’ boats from Hemmingway’s dock or a grab-and-go at any time. The business is open every day except on Tuesdays, with business hours from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
If the popularity of the Fousts’ past PK business endeavors are any indication, Pie House should be a huge success. The couple has made Hemmingway’s an immensely popular spot for a nice meal on the lake, and now Pie House will cater to customers who just need something quick and easy. Those who haven’t tried Pie House yet should download the app and give it a try.
