Community Highlights: Meet Dr. Dan & Michelle Lopez of Old Glory Pies

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Dan & Michelle Lopez.

Hi Dr. Dan & Michelle, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Old Glory Pies is a dream that started decades ago in a tiny mountain town in Southern California. I grew up in Julian, where I learned to bake pies from master baker Liz Smothers at the Julian Pie Company. She taught me the magic of a good crust, the importance of fresh ingredients, the value of keeping things hand-made — and that pies have a way of bringing people together.

Fast forward a few decades — after a long career in education and raising a family with my wife, Michelle — we decided it was time to chase a different dream. We bought a big delivery van, turned it into a dessert food truck, and hit the road in North Texas to share the flavors of home with our new community.

Old Glory Pies is about more than just dessert. It’s about nostalgia, comfort, and classic Americana — a simpler time when neighbors shared pie on the porch and dessert was made from scratch with love. Every pie we serve is a tribute to those values. We use real butter, seasonal fruit, and recipes that honor tradition — with an Americana twist. Whether it’s a flaky apple pie, a sassy key lime in a Biscoff crust, or a hearty chicken pot pie, we’re proud to serve something that makes people smile.

What started with a rolling pin and a lot of prayer has become a family-run business we love — a little slice of the American dream, one piece at a time.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting a food truck in the middle of Texas heat, learning the ins and outs of permits, power, and pie production on wheels… it was a steep learning curve. We’ve had ovens go down, generators act up, and plenty of days where we questioned our sanity. And as a small, family-run business, every decision felt big — because it was.

One of the biggest challenges was simply being new. New to the scene, new to the area, and new to the food truck world. Building trust, finding our customers, and carving out a space in a busy market took time, grit, and a whole lot of pie samples.

But through it all, we leaned on each other, stayed rooted in why we started, and kept showing up — one slice at a time. The hard days made the good ones even sweeter. And every time someone takes a bite and says it tastes like home, we know we’re right where we’re supposed to be.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Old Glory Pies?
Old Glory Pies is a dessert food truck serving hand-crafted pies, apple cider donuts, and specialty coffee drinks — all with a nostalgic, patriotic twist. We operate throughout North Texas, bringing a taste of home to community events, festivals, and private gatherings.

At Old Glory Pies, we specialize in handcrafted fruit pies, cream pies, and savory comfort pies — all made from scratch using real butter, fresh-cut apples, and our signature sweet, buttery crumb topping. Each pie is a labor of love, rooted in tradition and baked with purpose. Whether you’re craving a slice of our OG Cherry, the velvety richness of our Chocolate Silk, or one of our savory pies filled with down-home goodness, you’ll find that every bite brings you back to simpler times. It’s comfort food with a patriotic twist — and a taste of freedom in every forkful.

But we’re known for more than just pie. Our small-batch apple cider donuts are a fan favorite, and we proudly serve Lavazza coffee to pair with every sweet slice. Everything we do is rooted in tradition, hospitality, and a deep love of Americana. Our name says it all — Old Glory Pies is about more than dessert; it’s about honoring the past while creating something meaningful in the present.

What sets us apart is our commitment to tradition and our love of the red, white, and blue. Our brand is deeply rooted in Americana — not just the flavor of it, but the feeling. We want every bite to take you back to a simpler time: front porches, Sunday dinners, fairgrounds, and small-town pride. That’s why we fly the name Old Glory — because we believe pie and patriotism go hand-in-hand.

We’re proud to be family-run and faith-driven. We believe in doing things the right way, even when it takes longer. Our customers aren’t just transactions — they’re neighbors, supporters, and part of the story we’re building one slice at a time.

So whether you’re craving dessert, planning a private event, or just need a little taste of home, we’re here to serve. And when you see our flag flying and smell those pies baking, we hope you’ll know: you’ve found the right place.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Absolutely. I’m a big believer in lifelong learning, and over the years I’ve drawn from all kinds of resources — some practical, some inspirational, and some that just help keep me grounded.

At this stage in life, a few things really stand out:

Books like The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss introduced me to the idea of never really retiring — but instead, taking mini-retirements along the way to pursue passions and recharge. And No Excuses Leadership by Damen Lopez has shaped how I lead and serve, both in business and in life, with its powerful message of servant leadership.

Podcasts like How I Built This give me a sense of camaraderie with other entrepreneurs. Hearing how others have built their businesses — through ups, downs, and detours — reminds me that none of us have it all figured out, and that’s okay.

And honestly, faith plays a huge part in how I do my best in life. Whether it’s reading Scripture, prayer, or listening to worship music before a big event, that quiet time centers me and reminds me who I’m doing this for.

Of course, none of this replaces the best resource I have: my wife, Michelle. She’s my partner in both life and pie. Our late-night idea sessions — usually over coffee and crust — have fueled most of what makes Old Glory Pies what it is today.

Pricing:

• Whole Pies – $30-$35
• Cutie Pies (Little Pies) – $7.5 – $9
• Slices – $6.5 – $7.5

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.OGPies.com
• Instagram: @OGPies
• Facebook: /OGPies

Image Credits
All photos were taken by Michelle and Dan Lopez