SMELTERVILLE — Mae’s Market is making Smelterville sweeter, one slice of pie at a time since celebrating their grand opening right before Christmas.

Owner LeMae Prentice said that she is thrilled to bring a new twist to the market, which for many years operated as the locally adored Wayside Market.

“The market has been around since 1930,” she said. “So for the valley, it's been a staple for a really long time.”

Prentice said her vision for the business was to combine convenience with a hometown atmosphere and explained, “Really, what I am is a small town market.”

The store offers an array of groceries, as well as beer and wine, but Prentice said what sets it apart from its neighboring Walmart or other competitors is its fresh baked goods, and grab-and-go lunch and dinner options.

Homemade meals such as chicken enchiladas, baked mac and cheese, and lasagna are made fresh by one of the market’s two chefs and can be purchased alongside one of Prentice’s homemade pies and always rotating selection of hand made side dishes.

Along with the classics — apple, cherry, pecan and others, word is already buzzing among locals about what Prentice said her husband refers to as her “famous pear pie.”

Plans are in action to match the delicious food with a cozy atmosphere that will welcome customers to sit down and grab a bite to eat or enjoy a slice of pie with a cup of coffee in house.

“People can come in here and smell fresh food cooking and pies baking. That’s what I really love, is getting to know the locals," Prentice said "We already have people that are coming in every day, and it’s that hometown feel where they’ll walk in and we already know them and can be like ‘how’s your dogs,’ or find out what else is new in their lives.”

Prentice said that while she will be the store’s main operator, her husband Greg has been the “boots on the ground guy,” working behind the scenes to bring her dream to life before he starts a new venture of his own opening up a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) business near their market.

Mae’s Market is currently open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., but plans on expanding their hours in the future. To order pies or for all other questions, Prentice can be reached by emailing [email protected]