Crave Pie began in 2010 when life took an unexpected turn. After being laid off from my corporate job of 20 years, I found myself at a crossroads—continue down a familiar but unfulfilling path or take a leap into the unknown. Inspired by Robert Frost’s words about the “road less traveled,” I chose the latter and enrolled in culinary school.

At Gwinnett Technical College, I started with a passion for savory cooking and a strong aversion to baking. Unlike many bakers, I hadn’t grown up learning family recipes or baking alongside my grandmother, so I dreaded Baking 101. But I pushed forward, and for my final exam, I baked an apple pie from scratch. That moment changed everything. Suddenly, baking wasn’t just a requirement—it was a revelation! I became captivated by pie, its versatility, its seasonality, and the way it connects people across generations and occasions. My love for pie only deepened, and after months of learning and practicing, I knew this was my calling.

Then came a life-changing gift. Just days before my husband, Greg, deployed with the Army National Guard, I walked into my kitchen to find a massive industrial garbage can with a bow on it. Initially puzzled (and slightly irritated), I opened the lid to find it filled with professional pie-making tools. That was the nudge I needed to take the next step into something that was bigger than I could see at that moment.

Around that same season, a scripture verse from 1 Peter began to resonate deeply with me. “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk…” (1 Peter 2:2-3) The word “crave” captured my heart. It spoke of longing, not just for food, but for what truly nourishes. Faith, beauty, goodness, community. That word became the foundation for this little pie shop. Trusting God and stepping out in faith, Crave Pie Studio was born.

I opened my shop to bring people together through the shared love of pie. More than a decade later, Crave Pie Studio continues on Main Street, in the heart of historic downtown Duluth. You can find us here living out our mission of artfully crafting pies that gather people around the table and making the world a little sweeter—one pie at a time. I’d love to see you here soon.

Briana Carson Founder & Owner