“This year, we kind of piggy-backed off of Gov. (Rick) Snyder’s initiative to stress the importance of mathematic education in schools when we advertised (the event),” said Jim Staron, director of operations at Grand Traverse Pie Company.

The restaurant provided free pieces of its ABC Crumb pie — made of apples, blueberries and cherries — to each patron who attended during the designated time period. The staff went through 35 pies, or 280 slices, in the 31.4 minutes, said Nik Parkinson, the restaurant’s manager.

“On Monday, we prepped 25 pies for today, and then Tuesday we baked and cut them and packaged them (Wednesday),” Parkinson said. “We went through those 25 pies within the first ten minutes of the event.”

Although this is the third year the restaurant has offered free pie on Pi Day, Staron said this year had the biggest turnout after the company’s decision to utilize social media such as Facebook and Twitter.

Parkinson said hosting events like Pi Day helps Grand Traverse Pie Company gain publicity in the community.

“We love doing these kinds of events once or twice a year,” Parkinson said. “(Wednesday) was the first really nice weather day of the year, and it gave us the opportunity to show people that we do more than just pie.”

Nursing senior Kendel Grant enjoyed a slice of ABC Crumb with her friends during the event. She said even though she is not excited about math, the free pie Grand Traverse offered her was more than satisfying.

“Serving pie on Pi Day is a great way to remember what the number pi is,” Grant said. “Especially when the pie is free, and tastes really good.”