Jenny Lamble never imagined that baking a few Thanksgiving pies for friends would one day become Be Happy Pie Company, a thriving business with two Evansville storefronts, two franchise locations, and growing! Although best known for pie (of course), the business is a full-service bakery offering scones, cookies, cheesecakes, and more. Be Happy Pie Company makes small batch, made from scratch goodies just like your grandma used to.

The bakery’s story began in 2014 when Jenny was working as a school counselor. After an active shooter training left her shaken, Jenny began questioning whether it was the right long-term path for her. A career counselor encouraged her to explore her passion for baking, but she wasn’t too sure about that advice. One Thanksgiving not too long after, she offered to make a few pies for a friend, and “it was so much fun,” she recalls, “and that’s how it all started.”

Jenny started the business as a side gig, selling at farmer’s markets like the Franklin Street Bazaar on the weekends, and the business boomed. After taking over her home kitchen, her husband built a bakery kitchen for her in their basement, and she soon outgrew that as well. With encouragement from customers, family, and mentors at SCORE and the Southwest Indiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Jenny felt it was time to explore opening a storefront.

“It was terrifying, but I told my husband I had to try—even if we failed,” she says. “Doug Claybourn at the SBDC helped me with market research and planning, and my SCORE mentor, Dean Gaslin, gave me advice that I’ve found to be true - “Consistency is key.” In fall 2017, she opened her first storefront on Evansville’s west side.

In those early years, Jenny worked 14-hour days, learning every aspect of running a small business—marketing, hiring, sourcing ingredients, and managing finances. Jenny thanks her husband and daughter for supporting her, especially in those early years. Even her daughter’s friends would offer to assemble boxes when they visited! She’s also grateful for her friend and coworker, Donna. Donna was a “lunch lady” at the same school as Jenny and has worked with her since the early days of baking in Jenny’s basement.

The hard work paid off. Jenny has a great team behind her, and especially wants to credit her manager, Emily, whose vision has made a huge difference in the company.

In 2024, the bakery expanded with a second Evansville location on the east side, followed by its first franchise opening in Paducah, Kentucky, in 2025. A second franchise is slated to open in Kansas City in early 2026. Navigating the complex world of franchising has been a learning experience and an incredibly rewarding one for Jenny.

Another surprise for Jenny: “I never expected to fall in love with our customers the way I have,” she says. “We’ve become part of people’s lives—birthdays, weddings, baby showers, even funerals. There’s something so special about how food connects people. We have some customers that come for breakfast every week, and they are now dear friends.”

Of course, there have been challenges along the way. Some of the toughest have included navigating the COVID shutdown, rising ingredient costs, and the everyday chaos of running a food business. But Jenny has kept a positive outlook and a deep commitment to her mission.

Her advice to other small business owners? “Crawl before you walk. Buy used equipment, find affordable space, and be consistent in your product and your hours. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it’s worth it.”

As she celebrates 10 years in business, Jenny looks forward to the future. “Every town needs a Be Happy Pie Company,” she says with a laugh, and I think we’d all agree that would certainly make the world a brighter place.

Order online at https://behappypiecompany.com/ or visit one of their Evansville locations at 2818 Mount Vernon Ave (west side) or 6225 E Virginia St. (east side).