When Alex and Aligra Pavich bought the Oregon Candy Farm property ten
years ago, the pair basically started from scratch to create a business. From
the walk-in freezer to the coolers and just about everything in between, the
entrepreneurs waded through red tape to bring everything up to code and into
the 21st century.

“We basically redid the whole thing,” Alex said. “It just took us years to do
that. It was just so outdated. It needed an overhaul, more than just a fresh
coat of paint.”

The pair opened the Sandy Commissary Kitchen, a shared kitchen for small
businesses to use by the hour or the day, in 2019 and have now launched
their latest endeavor, the Mt. Hood Pie Company. And just like their approach
to their investment in their property, these pies are all made from scratch.
Their selection includes traditional favorites, including a Hood apple, pumpkin,
key lime and pecan pies, while Alex noted they also specialize in cream-based
pies, such as banana cream, chocolate peanut butter, coconut cream and a
range of berries, from blueberry cream to cherry cream. He also noted that
new flavors of pies that aren’t available elsewhere are going to appear on
their menu, including an Oreo mint pie, similar to a grasshopper pie, in time
for “pi day” (March 14, the date which mirrors the math constant of the ratio
of a circle’s circumference to its diameter) and for St. Patrick’s Day.
“I’m just experimenting all the time,” Alex said. “That’s my goal, high end
pie.”

Pies can be purchased online, with delivery and pick up options, as well as a
growing number of area restaurants and food purveyors, including Timberline
Meat Market, White’s Meat Market, Cooper’s Wine Bar and the Skyway Bar
and Grill.

Meanwhile, Alex noted that the Sandy Commissary Kitchen has found its
niche, with a number of regular clients utilizing the space to prepare food,
wash dishes and more. Alex, who ran a food cart selling mini donuts in
Portland more than ten years ago and used a commissary kitchen at the time,
noted that it can be especially challenging for people running food carts and
other startups to accomplish everything in such a small space.
“Not all of these businesses can afford the (equipment), all the stuff you need
to do basic business as a food maker,” he said.


Alex noted that back when the pair bought the Oregon Candy Farm property,
which was for decades an institution that drew countless people to enjoy its
sweets, the timing was right as they looked to get out of Portland.
He added that they’ve cleaned up the property, making walking trails and
even revitalizing a pair of trout ponds that they enjoy with their two young
children.

“Now our kids have a place to play,” Alex said.

The Mt. Hood Pie Company and the Sandy Commissary Kitchen are located at
48620 Hwy. 26 in Sandy. For more information, visit
www.mthoodpiecompany.com and www.sandycommissarykitchen.com.

To reach the Mt. Hood Pie Company by phone, call 503-482-8121, and to
reach the Sandy Commissary Kitchen by phone, call 503-668-5149.