People have been flocking to Bakers Square in Iowa since the casual-dining chain and pie shop first opened in 1969 under the name Mrs. C’s in Des Moines. Since then, it’s undergone a lot of restructuring and is currently owned by a larger casual-dining firm that operates locations around the Midwest, as well as a collection of smaller pie shops that sell its most famous items. It’s known for its hefty portions of breakfast, lunch, and dinner favorites, as well as its massive selection of pies, but few people know about a forgotten chapter in Bakers Square history. Once upon a time, this chain was owned by one of the most famous companies in the world – and was even inspired by the company’s mascot to change its name!

If you live around Clive, Iowa, you've probably eaten at Bakers Square's flagship location.
Scott McClure/Google Local
This rustic casual dining restaurant is known for hearty all-American cuisine - and of course, a lot of pie!
Roy Jones/Google Local
Starting life under the name Mrs. C's in 1969, it still serves delicious breakfast favorites.
Bakers Square/Google Local
For lunch, hefty burgers and deli-style sandwiches are always popular.
Bakers Square/Google Local

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For dinner, country-style favorites, like chicken pot pie, never disappoint - and hark back to the restaurant's forgotten past.
Bakers Square/Google Local
Today, the chain is owned by restaurant holding company VICORP, but shortly after opening, it was purchased by the world-famous Pillsbury baking company!
MCAD Library/Wikipedia
The corporation rebranded the restaurant chain Poppin' Fresh Pies - after the famous Pillsbury Doughboy mascot. This branding lasted until 1983.
DaPuglet/Flickr
But given that a big part of the company's branding is baking, it's not surprising that some old Pillsbury influence remains in the many delicious pies.
Bakers Square/Google Local
If the restaurant has a signature item, it's definitely the French Silk Pie - a rich, chocolatey delight.
Bakers Square/Google Local

Have you visited Bakers Square in Iowa or at any of its other locations? Did you know about its ties to the Pillsbury corporation? Let us know in the comments section, and tell us about your favorite flavor of pie! You can visit the official Bakers Square website to learn more about this popular casual-dining chain. Bakers Square isn’t the only Iowa chain with a unique history here, so why not learn about Iowa’s oldest Dairy Queen?

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Bakers Square, 1310 NW 114th St, Clive, IA 50325, USA