Hidden Gems: Meet John Avila of Prison Pies

Today we’d like to introduce you to John Avila.

John, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born in a rough neighborhood in Phoenix, Arizona, raised by a single mother with my little brother life had its challenges. Growing up, I always wanted to try to help my mother financially in any way that I could. I had always held a job and also tried to make money on the side anyway I could, investing in many things, although not always lucrative; I learned a lot at a young age about what was worth getting into and what may turn into a loss.

As a teenager, I got mixed up with the wrong crowd getting into a gang and just not doing very well. The life I led got me in trouble with the law getting my first felony at 19 years old; by the age of 21, I was on my way to prison. When I got to the prison yard, I realized that this place was not for me and I had more to offer society then to just be locked in a prison cell for the rest of my life.

In 2009, I was laid off because of the recession from the housing crash, it was very hard to find a job that would pay me what I knew I was worth. I ended up starting my first LLC, offering printing services. Within the first month, I partnered up with someone that had all the printing equipment and we worked together to run a print shop that is still in business today.

Also, in 2009, I came up with a company called Mary Jane Smokewear, that company is also still around. We started advocating for the legalization of marijuana laws. We worked with several companies all over the country to try to help them out as well.

Just recently, I started a new business called prison pies; this is very exciting to me because I know people will like the food and I know I will be able to help out people to either keep them out of prison or help them when they get out of prison. This new business is a new type of food that you don’t see anywhere else. So I think I have created a new Lane which is difficult in the food industry. The food that we will make is authentic food that we made in prison out of the commissary we used to buy in there. We will be selling prison tamales, burritos, soups, pastries and a special coffee that we used to call a Cadillac. I’m very excited to go to shows and see the reaction of our customers when they actually taste the food.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I think one of the biggest challenges is learning a new industry, coming from the printing industry for the past 20 plus years learning the laws and everything that goes along with having a food cart was a bit of a challenge. I am also a single father, which has its challenges as well, luckily I have a strong backing from family and my daughter gets to spend time with family when I’m out working. As of now, I haven’t had to sacrifice too much time away from my daughter and she is doing great in school and is a very good girl.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I have always enjoyed cooking; lots of my family has complimented me on my food. I think the thing that will make me the happiest it seemed people enjoy my food and talk about it to other people. Also getting other people involved and helping them stay out of prison and reaching out to youth service to help them out as well. I’ve partnered with another friend that owns a company called Zonka Miles which is a non-profit organization to help prisoners in many ways.

Contact Info:

• Email: Sales@prisonpies.com
• Website: www.prisonpies.com
• Instagram: PrisonpiesAZ
• Facebook: Facebook.com/Prison-Pies-102094852053627