National Pi Day, celebrated annually on March 14 (3/14), honors the mathematical constant pi (π) and has evolved into a significant day for food enthusiasts seeking deals on pies and pizza. In Chicago, local bakeries, pizzerias, and national chains participate by offering special promotions, typically priced at $3.14. These deals range from discounted slices to full-sized items, often requiring specific actions such as reciting digits or making a minimum purchase. The following guide details verified offers available in the Chicago area for the current year, based on information from local news outlets and official announcements.
The origins of Pi Day trace back to 1988, when physicist Larry Shaw founded the celebration at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. Shaw linked the date 3/14 to the digits of pi to foster community engagement. The first event featured fruit pies and a tea urn, eventually expanding to include a "Pi Shrine" and circular parades. In 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives formally recognized Pi Day. Beyond its mathematical significance—pi represents the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter—the day coincides with Albert Einstein's birthday, adding to its cultural appeal. While pi is an irrational number with infinite digits, the date 3.14 serves as a convenient approximation for pricing structures in promotional offers.
For consumers in Chicago, Pi Day presents an opportunity to access discounted food items across various categories, including sweet pies, savory pies, and pizza. These promotions are typically available in-store, with limited supplies and specific eligibility requirements. The following sections categorize these deals by vendor type, providing details on availability, pricing, and any necessary conditions.
Bakery Deals
Several Chicago-area bakeries offer Pi Day promotions focused on traditional pies and baked goods. These deals are often in-store only and subject to supply limitations.
- Hewn Bread Bakery: Located at 810 Dempster St in Evanston, this bakery offers turnovers for $3.14 on March 14, while supplies last. Hours of operation on Pi Day are from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Baker's Square: Available at all Chicagoland locations, Baker's Square provides $2 off any full-sized pie when purchased in-store on March 13 and 14. The offer excludes cheesecake and carrot cake.
- First Slice Pie Café: With multiple Chicagoland locations, First Slice Pie Café offers buy one, get one half off on all slices of pie on March 14. This deal applies to in-store purchases.
- Bennison's Bakery: Situated at 1000 Davis St in Evanston, Bennison's sells six-inch pies for $3.14 on March 14. The promotion is in-store only, with no pre-orders accepted.
- Honeypie Bakeshop: Originally from Milwaukee and now in Edgewater, Honeypie Bakeshop allows customers to preorder 11-inch handmade pies for pickup on March 13 and 14. The shop is known for key lime and chocolate-forward pies like s'mores bar.
- Bang Bang! Pie & Biscuits: Located in Logan Square at 2051 N California Ave and 4948 N Damen, Bang Bang offers sweet and savory pies for $3.14 on March 14. Unique flavors include gluten-free coconut cream, baklava cheesecake, and a southern tomato pot pi(e). Customers can also order a "Frankenpie."
- Justice of The Pies: Based in Avalon Park on the South Side, this shop specializes in pies and participates in Pi Day with available promotions, though specific deal details are not fully outlined in the source data.
- Bennison's Bakery (Additional Context): Reiterating the Evanston location, the six-inch pie offer is a staple for in-store customers without reservations.
These bakery deals emphasize in-person redemption and limited quantities, making early visits advisable for consumers.
Pizza and Savory Pie Deals
Pi Day also extends to pizzerias and venues offering savory pies, often incorporating the $3.14 price point or requiring a recitation of pi digits.
- Jet's Pizza: Available at all Chicagoland locations, customers who recite the first three digits of pi (3.14) can purchase a small one-topping pizza for $3.14 on March 14.
- Pizzeria Due: At its River North location, Pizzeria Due offers a 10-inch, thin-crust cheese or pepperoni pizza for $3.14 for dine-in or takeout on March 14.
- Blaze Pizza: At any Chicago location, Blaze Pizza allows customers to build their own 11-inch pizza for $3.14 on March 14.
- 7-Eleven: Loyalty members can get any flavor of large pizza for $3.14 at 7-Eleven, Speedway, and Stripes stores. The offer is limited to one transaction, two per day.
- Chiya Chai Cafe: Located at 2770 N Milwaukee Ave, this cafe offers two specialty savory pies—Balti Chicken Savory Pie and Kale and Potato Savory Pie—for $3.14 each on March 14.
- Cupitol Coffee + Eatery: At 455 E Illinois St, miniature Greek pies are sold for $3.14 on Pi Day.
- Avli Taverna: Situated at 1335 W Wrightwood Ave, Avli Taverna sells individual hortopita pies for $3.14 on March 14.
- Chicago French Market: Located at 131 N Clinton St, three vendors offer non-pie deals: Santullo's Slices sells cheese pizza for $3.14 from 2:00 p.m. to close; Windy City Dawgs offers Chicago-style hot dogs for $3.14; and Firenze Street Food provides small sandwiches for $3.14.
- The Windsor/Remington's Restaurant: At 160 E Huron St and 20 N Michigan Ave, both locations sell slices of key lime pie for $5 during lunch and dinner on March 14.
These pizza-focused promotions often involve puns on "pi" (pie) and "pizza," providing variety for savory preferences. Recitation requirements, like at Jet's Pizza, add an interactive element for math enthusiasts.
National Chain Deals
National chains with Chicago presence participate in Pi Day with standardized offers, often tied to loyalty programs.
- Burger King: Offers a free Hershey's sundae pie with a $3.14 purchase as part of its week of breakfast deals. This promotion requires a minimum spend to redeem the free item.
- 7-Eleven: As noted, loyalty members access large pizzas for $3.14, with transaction limits to prevent abuse.
- Blaze Pizza: The $3.14 build-your-own pizza is a nationwide offer available in Chicago stores.
These deals rely on app-based loyalty or specific purchase thresholds, which may vary by location but are generally consistent across the region.
Eligibility and Redemption Rules
Most Pi Day deals in Chicago require in-store presence and are subject to "while supplies last" policies. Key eligibility factors include:
- Minimum Purchases: Some offers, like Burger King's free pie, require a $3.14 purchase. Others, such as Bennison's Bakery, have no purchase requirement beyond the $3.14 price.
- Loyalty Requirements: 7-Eleven and similar chains mandate membership in their loyalty programs.
- Geographic Restrictions: All listed deals are specific to Chicagoland locations, with no indication of national availability beyond the chains.
- Time Limits: Promotions are valid only on March 14 (and occasionally March 13, as with Baker's Square and Honeypie Bakeshop), with some having specific hours (e.g., Santullo's Slices from 2:00 p.m.).
- Exclusions: Baker's Square excludes cheesecake and carrot cake; other deals may limit flavors or sizes.
- Verification Methods: Jet's Pizza requires reciting the first three digits of pi, while others simply offer the price point.
Consumers should note that deals are not available for pre-order in many cases (e.g., Bennison's) and that non-pie items like pizza and hot dogs are included under the "pi" theme.
Historical Context and Trends
Pi Day's evolution from a scientific observance to a culinary holiday reflects broader consumer trends. Since the U.S. House of Representatives' recognition in 2009, participation has grown, with Chicago's diverse food scene embracing both sweet and savory interpretations. The ancient Greek roots of pi—derived from "perimetros" meaning circumference—underscore the mathematical tie-in, while Einstein's birthday adds a playful layer. In Chicago, Pi Day has become a "Super Bowl" for pie businesses, with some vendors like Bang Bang Pie Shop introducing innovative flavors to meet high demand without relying solely on discounts.
For deal seekers, Pi Day offers a low-cost way to sample local specialties. However, the limited nature of these promotions means availability can vary, and consumers are advised to check with individual locations for confirmation.
Conclusion
National Pi Day in Chicago provides a range of deals on pies and pizza, centered around the $3.14 price point and available at bakeries, pizzerias, and national chains. From turnovers at Hewn Bread Bakery to build-your-own pizzas at Blaze Pizza, these promotions cater to both math enthusiasts and food lovers. Redemption typically requires in-store visits, with some offers tied to loyalty programs or minimum purchases. As the holiday grows in popularity, these deals highlight the intersection of mathematics and culinary culture in Chicago's vibrant food landscape.