Tasty feeding frenzy. Tri-Cities baker is doing for pie what cupcakes did for cake

The newest business to join the Pasco Specialty Kitchen is shaking up the local dessert scene by offering individual servings of fresh, local pies — both sweet and savory.

Justen Tjarks moved his young business, Pie Sharks, to the restaurant incubator in downtown Pasco in May and opened to the public in early July.

Pie Sharks occupies the retail space previously home to Aub’s Bananza Bread. Aub’s owner Aubrienne Johnson moved her business into a sober poetry lounge on the Richland waterfront this spring.

Tjarks gave spot a fresh coat of paint, new flooring and equipment before he began selling individual pies to the public.

The business includes a retail counter and a small window where Tjarks greets passersby, gives advice on local dining spots and offers samples of his wares.

“I love my little window here,” he said.

Family mascot

Pie Sharks takes its name from its owner’s surname “Tjarks.” The family name is pronounced “charks” but is frequently simplified to “sharks.”

Tjarks and his father both took “sharks” as their military handles. The Tjarks embraced sharks as a family mascot, he said.

Pie Sharks, 110 N. Fourth Ave., sells a rotating assortment of personal pies. It adds new flavors each week and retires previous week’s least popular offering, at least temporarily.

Sample flavors include banana cream, chocolate cream, lemon cream and cheesecake for those who prefer sweet treats.

The savory menu features bruschetta, charcuterie, greek feta and a jalapeno bacon cream cheese.

Fruit topping are available as well to customize individual servings.

Bite-sized pies — or “pites” as Tjarks calls them — cost $4, with discounts for larger orders. He offers varying sized boxes for customers who want to take an assortment to family, friends, colleagues and events.

Pandemic past-time

Tjarks turned to pie making after working for 10 years as a physical therapy assistant, a career he started in the Air Force.

After concluding he couldn’t advance without further degrees and certifications, he began pursuing a bachelor’s in applied management at Columbia Basin College.

When the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns hit in 2020, he found himself at loose ends. He even embraced the popular pandemic past time: Baking.

Tjarks quickly realized he lacked a passion for bread and turned his attention to other desserts.

He became “obsessed,” he said, with creating a crust recipe. Neither butter nor oil versions suited his needs.

He found perfection in a blend of butter and olive oil and began making mini pies when he concluded that a 9-inch pie is “too much of one flavor” if

His business studies informed his progress. He began tracking expenses and managing his pie activities like an accountant and testing recipes on family and friends.

By selling individual servings of pie, he believes Pie Sharks is doing for pie what cupcakes did for cakes: Offer customers a quick bite rather than a full commitment.

Public Market launch

He became a member of the Red Mountain Kitchen and opened a booth at the Public Market at Columbia River Warehouse in Kennewick. He remained there about six months, when the market asked him to move to a new spot amid a reorganization.

He completed his bachelor’s at CBC and began considering his options.

Tjarks said he didn’t have the money to set up a bakery on his own. The empty Aub’s spot at Pasco Specialty Kitchen was the perfect option.

His new location is one door south of the commericial kitchen’s two walk-up windows. All three spots overlook the Pasco Farmers Market, and the kitchen is currently recruiting tenants for the two walk-up spots.

Tjarks said his long-term vision for Pie Sharks is to add employees, manufacturing and distribution He wants to create custom flavors for specific vendors as well. He plans to spend about a year at the specialty kitchen, then if all goes well, move into a standalone space.

Pie Sharks new hours are 3-7 p.m., Tuesday-Friday, and 9 a.m.-2 mp.m., Saturday. Confirm hours on social media. Pie Sharks is on Instagram @PieSharksWa and Facebook.com/PieSharks. Pie Sharks is also available through Door Dash.

Tjarks can be reached at PieGuy@piesharks.com or 509-987-5887.

How to join specialty kitchen

Pasco Specialty Kitchen is a commercial kitchen operated by the city of Pasco to serve as an incubator to restaurants and food businesses.

The licensed kitchen leases time, including equipment, to its 21 current clients. It has capacity for 5-8 more.

For information about joining PSK, contact manager Alma Aguirre at aguirrea@pasco-wa.gov.

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