For nearly five decades, The Italian Pie Shoppe has been part of the Eagan dining scene. Since opening in 1976, it has welcomed families, neighbors, sports teams, and friends looking for comforting meals made with care. In May 2025, the restaurant entered a new chapter when the Dahmah family purchased the longtime favorite, bringing fresh energy while honoring the recipes that made it a local tradition.
Aaron Lehmann, son of George and Kim Dahmah, knows the neighborhood well. Before stepping into his current role, he spent 14 years at Wildcats Bar & Grill as a server, bartender, and manager, developing relationships with guests who became familiar faces. When the opportunity came to help lead The Italian Pie Shoppe, the timing felt right.
"It felt like a no-brainer because we loved the food," Aaron says.
The first few months were anything but easy. Aaron recalls that it was "all hands on deck" as the family worked through daily operations while shaping the restaurant into what they envisioned. Moving from a sports bar to a pizza restaurant also meant learning new skills along the way.
"I do it all," he says. "I'm in the kitchen two days a week, I'm serving two days a week, I'm delivering pizzas. It's a lot, but it is good, too." However, Aaron isn’t doing it all on his own. In addition to the staff, his brother, Elias, also works at the restaurant, with family members pitching in wherever they're needed to keep daily operations running.
More Than Great Pizza
That hands-on approach reaches every part of the menu. Dough is made daily. Vegetables are cut fresh. They shred Burnett cheese each day. Meatballs are prepared from scratch, and even the Godfather Salad dressing is made in the kitchen. Fresh bread arrives from Denny's Bakery in Bloomington, another local business that helps bring each meal together.
While the deep dish pizza remains a guest favorite, Aaron also points to the Chicago-style stuffed pizza with sauce layered on top as something people cannot find in many places nearby. Meat Lovers continues to be one of the restaurant's most requested pies, while Italian fries, garlic cheese bread, and spaghetti and meatballs have developed loyal followings of their own.
"There aren't many places like us," Aaron says with a smile.
That attention to detail extends well beyond the kitchen. Aaron credits much of the restaurant's recent growth to a renewed commitment to consistency and customer care. Sales increased by about 25% during the first year under the family's ownership, with another year of growth already underway.
"We take our customers' needs very seriously," Aaron says. "If something goes wrong, we're committed to fixing it. But things don't really go wrong," he adds with a laugh, "because we do everything we can to get it right the first time."
Bringing Neighbors Together
The Italian Pie Shoppe is about more than serving dinner. It has become a gathering place where people celebrate birthdays, host team dinners, and reconnect over a favorite meal. The restaurant seats about 60 guests, with a private party room available for groups of around 25.
Its connection to local schools has become another part of its story. From fundraising nights that return proceeds to school programs to partnerships with youth sports teams selling frozen pizzas, the restaurant enjoys finding meaningful ways to support the community.
"Our community is so important to us, and we love giving back," Aaron says. "We're always open to these types of community partnerships."
That spirit offers another reminder that supporting a neighborhood restaurant often reaches much farther than the meal itself. Whether gathering friends for deep dish, planning a family celebration, or organizing a fundraiser for a local school, every visit helps strengthen connections close to home.
To learn more about the menu, rewards program, catering opportunities, fundraising partnerships, and upcoming specials, visit The Italian Pie Shoppe's website at https://www.italianpieshoppe.com/.