Pie Hole, a sweet and savory pie shop popular with downtown Los Angeles hipsters, is coming to Orange County in early 2016.

With locations in Los Angeles and Pasadena, the four-year-old Pie Hole is embarking on a global growth strategy that will bring 200 shops in the next five years. Locally, Rick and Madeleine Anaya are among the first Southern California franchisees. They own the rights to open three locations in Orange County. The first one is coming to Old Towne Orange.

“We love this community,” Rick Anaya said.

The first Pie Hole opened in 2011 in the Los Angeles arts district. The family-run shop is a labor of love for mother-and-son Becky Grasley and Matthew Heffner. The two teamed up to bring Grasley’s sweet and savory pies to the masses.

Grasley turns comfort foods such as mac and cheese into individual pies with thick flaky crusts. Other flavors include shepherd’s pie, veggie curry and chicken and cornbread. Within a couple of years, Pie Hole had become a major hit. In 2014, Conde Nast Traveler named Pie Hole’s Maple Custard Pie one of the 12 best pies in America.

On the sweet side, Pie Hole offers a mix of traditional and the unexpected flavors which range from classics like pumpkin and apple crumble to Mexican chocolate and Earl Grey. Savory pies come in small individual sizes, while sweet pies are sold by the slice and as whole pies.

“The woman who invented these pies is a genius,” Rick Anaya, 63, said.

The Anayas, who have homes in San Clemente and Rancho Cucamonga, said they have always wanted to own a specialty coffee house. Before premium coffee became a trend in the last few years, Rick Anaya and his wife were tamping their own espresso from a European espresso maker 27 years ago.

After selling an international education business, the Anayas began to reconsider their lifelong dream of opening a cafe. A friend introduced them to Pie Hole, which is also known for its organic coffee and specialty flavor latte drinks such horchata and dirty chai.

They were hooked after tasting the pies and premium coffee.

“We fell in love with it. We are realizing a dream we had 27 years ago,” Rick Anaya said.

The couple is among the first domestic franchisees to announce plans to develop Pie Hole shops. The chain plans to open several locations in Los Angeles, Orange County, Japan and Qatar through franchising. The Pie Hole founders, who also include Sean Brennan, are working with Newport Beach-based Fransmart. The firm helps emerging brands expand through controlled franchising,

In 2016, anywhere from five to 10 locations will open, including Old Towne Orange, El Segundo, Hollywood (Hollywood & Vine) and Paramount. LAX officials confirm a location is also slated for Terminal 2 at the airport.

The Pie Hole in Orange is replacing a sandwich shop at the corner of Maple Avenue and Glassell Street in the city’s historic downtown.

Rick Anaya said the Orange location will look the same as the two Los Angeles shops. It will have a display case for signature and seasonal selections. Individual pies will be baked to order. Some pies will be baked in-house, but others will most likely be made in Los Angeles and shipped fresh daily to the store, he said. The pre-made savory pies will be heated to order in an oven – no microwaves, Ricky Anaya said.

Individual savory, sweet and breakfast pies range in price from $5 to $8.50. Whole sweet pies range in price from $36 to $42.

Contact the writer: nluna@ocregister.com and follow the Fast Food Maven on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.