Thieves steal tip jar, cash register, and a whole pie from Ballard A la Mode Pies

Two different thieves broke into the newly opened A la Mode Pies in Ballard over the weekend, stealing cash and a whole pie from the shop.

A la Mode recently took over the former Parfait location in Ballard, just next to the Ballard Library. They’d only been open a few weeks before the break-in.

Owner Chris Porter told My Ballard that the burglary happened at 1 a.m. Sunday morning. According to their cameras, a man used a rock to smash the front door and then stole the tip jar. An hour later, Porter said another man entered the shop and stole the cash register and a whole pie. “At least he’s a fan of A la Mode Pies,” Porter said.

Porter said they have video of both break-ins and are working with police. The damage was minimal, but he’s covered the front door with wood for the time being.

“We’re still open, despite a little damage,” Porter said.

“It’s disappointing as we just opened the Ballard location a few weeks ago—it’s not the welcome mat we were hoping for but things happen.”

If you want to support A la Mode, Porter said to check out their Thanksgiving pre-order menu. “This holiday, Ballard should leave the baking to us,” Porter said.  

Photo: Ballard A la Mode Pies, just before they opened in September 2021 / Chris Porter