Lucky Moon Pies and More to offer homemade goodies

Waiting 13 years to open your dream business may seem like a task for a saint, but Emily Kroner wouldn’t change the time leading up to opening Lucky Moon Pies and More for anything.

A Mahomet native, Emily Kroner, formerly Emily Moon, spent 20-some years away from Mahomet only to return to her hometown. The Kroner’s home on Oak Street is one that is admired by many, but Emily admired a small cottage located at 401 E Oak St. where she really wanted her storefront to be located.

Knowing she wanted to sell her homemade pies and desserts out of that space one day, Kroner contacted the building’s owner, asking the owner to consider renting the space to her when the Coffee Station closed down.

When Kroner found out that the Coffee Station owner was ready to retire, she once again contacted the building owner to see if it would be available for her use. Although the building owner had other interested parties, Kroner’s 13-year old request was honored, and she was able to begin renovating the space.

Fitting equipment into the building has been a challenge for Kroner. With the help of KEC Designs, she has found the stove and ovens that will allow her to bake cream, fruit and savory pies. KEC Designs also helped her find a sink that would fit in the space while also meeting the health code requirements.

“We wouldn’t have been able to do this without the help of KEC Designs,” she said.

So, what do you do when you have an itch to bake without a storefront? Well, Kroner has spent her days creating food out of her home, following the health department’s Cottage Rules, for private clients. And although she loved the tasks associated with creating the food, Kroner said there have been days when she’s been fairly lonely.

“The one thing that has always bothered me about baking at home while my husband was at work all day was that it’s lonely,” Kroner said. “You’re there all day by yourself, except for somebody coming by to pick something up, and they are usually in a hurry. Whereas in a shop, I’m hoping people will come in and out and you can say ‘Hello or Good Morning.’ I need a little more people in my life.”

When Lucky Moon Pies and More opens their doors in July, Kroner will spend her mornings at the shop preparing homemade pies. The store will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

“I actually enjoy the tasks involved in baking,” she said. “I enjoy the process of creating the pie and making it look nice. People are just so appreciative to get something they want to eat that is handmade, not machine made.”

And that’s the whole point of Lucky Moon Pies and More: to give customers a homemade pie or dessert with high-quality ingredients.

Kroner said she plans to have seasonal pies available by the slice daily. She wants to have an organic and gluten free line of pies alongside quiches, savory pies, such as steak and blue cheese or goat cheese and fig tarts, and chicken pot pie and maybe a pizza pie for teenagers. Whole dessert pies will be available by order.

“I want people to know the food is coming from a good source,” she said. “I hope people realize they are not getting a frozen pie that was stamped out by a machine. (Lucky Moon Pies) are free of preservatives.”

An avid baker, Kroner also said she may offer cakes, cookies or brownies at some point, but she will have to see if there is a demand for those items first.

“I just want it to be a well-loved spot in Mahomet,” she said. “I feel incredibly lucky to have this charming building.”