About Us

For 30 years James and Mary Fannie Woodruff operated a country store in Amherst County. Downstairs served as a community gathering place with a wood stove, chairs and benches. Upstairs was the Woodruff home. Out front were fuel pumps where Mary Fannie dispensed gas, in between taking care of store sales and raising her five biological children as well as several foster children. The Woodruffs closed the store in 1983. They were married for 63 years until James' death in 1998.

And it was also in 1998 that their youngest daughter, Angela Scott, had the inspiration to reopen the place as Woodruff's Store, which features a small indoor dining area. Her sisters, Darnelle Winston and Darnette Hill, along with her husband, Larry Scott, also work in the shop. Mary Fannie "held court" and often referred to herself as the "entertainer" until her death in 2021 at the age of 104.

When Angela first opened Woodruff's Store, she sold grocery items, sandwiches and a few desserts. Soon there were additional items on the menu and a wide variety of pies. By that point, it had evolved into a café and pie shop with pies being the best seller. The types of pies vary by season and availability of ingredients and are sold by the slice or whole.

When the sign outside was hit by a car and a new sign was installed, Angela asked that "Café" be written in small letters and "Pie Shop" in big letters because "making pies is what I really want to do." After that the store became known as "the pie shop" and that's what people call it."

Angela says that the success of the pie shop is due to her late mom's strong faith. Mary Fannie's warm and friendly hospitality continues to be felt.

"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him."
NIV; Psalm 34:8