Mae’s Market Brings New Life to Former Mining Town

Customers strike it rich in Idaho’s Silver Valley with signature pear pie at new shop in Smelterville

Mae’s Market owner LeMae Prentice sells pie cups instead of slices of pie for her customers.

Story and photos by Carol Woolum Roberts

In the heart of a once booming North Idaho mining community, customers are striking it rich once again, not with silver, lead and zinc, but with homemade pies.

Since opening Dec. 20, Mae’s Market in Smelterville is gaining a reputation as a place to buy delicious, homemade food items. One in particular is gaining popularity: the pear pie.

“People now refer to it as my signature pie,” said LeMae Prentice, who owns Mae’s Market with her husband, Greg. “I have customers come in and say they need my signature pie.”

Prentice said her pear pie has a light taste, making it a great choice for a holiday meal or a summer picnic.

She decided to try out making pear pie because it is a niche that has not been filled

“No one has heard of a pear pie before, so it is a good conversation piece,” she said. “I have had people travel here from Spokane to buy some, because they are different.”

Each day Prentice bakes a different rotation of pies are baked, including cherry (above), pecan, apple and pear, plus pie cups.

She also mixes pear with other ingredients, such as lemon-pear, blueberry-pear, raspberry-pear and almond-pear. For St. Patrick’s Day, she is going to bake key lime-pear pies. 

Her more traditional flavors include cherry, pecan and apple, including caramel apple and a sugar-free apple she will make for special orders, using her own organic sweetener.

Mae’s Market only sells whole pies. Instead of a slice of pie, Prentice decided to sell “pie cups.” These are cupcake-sized pies, with two pie cups equaling one slice of pie.

The day begins for Prentice making about 12-15 pies before the market opens. She will also make pies throughout the day. Each pie costs $14.99.

“For me, making pies is very peaceful,” said Prentice. “It is a very Zen experience for me.”

Besides selling pies, Mae’s Market sells other homemade food customers can take home and heat up, such as lasagna, meatloaf and beef stroganoff. The menu is always expanding. The market also sells fresh produce and grocery items. Many pear items can be found on the shelves, including pear bread and pear hard cider.

The pie case has rotating flavors every day, but pear pie is always available. For special orders, customers can call 48 hours in advance. 

“We opened right before Christmas, and we thought business was going to slow down, but it hasn’t,” said Prentice. “People in this community appreciate the homemade items they can buy and take home.”

Visit Mae’s Market
217 Main Street, Smelterville
9 a.m. to 7 p.m every day
To call for special orders:
208-964-4134
hopeurhungry@gmail.com