The Clearwater Travel Plaza is known for a number of things, one of which is their incredible pies. Recently the man behind those pies, Clearwater resident Donnie Niebolte, celebrated 40 years of working for the Plaza.

 

“When I first started at the Plaza we were a one-man band,” said Niebolte. “We had to take care of everything. I cooked, mopped, cleaned the restaurant and washed dishes. Just me and two waitresses would serve 260 customers in an evening.”

 

Things at the Clearwater Travel Plaza have changed a great deal since then. Today Niebolte works primarily in the bakery, and he’s especially pleased with the most recent remodeling, which gave he and the rest of the bakery staff a lot more room to work.

 

With no formal culinary training, Niebolte was taught to cook by his mom and other Clearwater ladies. Before starting at the Plaza, he worked at the old Hollywood Motel and Steakhouse in Clearwater and Windjammers Supper Club.

 

Known as “The Pie Guy,” Niebolte creates most of the pies at the Plaza along with helping to make pastry items. He also takes care of all the flowers outside the building during the summer. He doesn’t have a favorite pie, he enjoys them all.

 

“Right now we’re making a lot of Easter pies,” he said. “French silk, pecan french silk and banana cream are the top sellers this time of year. I’m also making a lot of strawberry-rhubarb.”

Niebolte brings his skills home with him; he enjoys cooking for his friends and family.

 

“I’ve loved cooking all my life and sharing my life with people,” he said. “I like cooking for all my friends and people in the community. In April I’ll be making my pot roast dinner at Club Almar in St. Augusta.”

 

“Donnie lives to make the customers happy,” said Clearwater Travel Plaza Vice President Wendy Johnson. “Anyone needs anything he runs out and helps them.”

 

“He makes beautiful pies and loves what he’s doing.”

 

“I love coming to work,” said Niebolte. “We’re good team players, it’s a good atmosphere and we have good team management. We’re a family and it makes it fun to come to work.”