Houston, Texas – On April 1, Houston celebrates Kolache Shoppe Day, a tradition officially recognized in 2020 by Mayor Sylvester Turner to honor the bakery’s 50th anniversary. Fast forward to 2025, and Kolache Shoppe is marking 55 years of serving up these beloved Czech-Texan pastries!
Kolache Shoppe’s story is one of passion, heritage, and a bit of serendipity. Owner Randy Hines grew up savoring kolaches in the Texas-Czech belt southwest of Houston. While working as a consultant in Washington, D.C., he dreamed of opening his own kolache shop. Instead of starting from scratch, he sought guidance from his favorite spot—Kolache Shoppe in Houston. Owner Erwin Ahrens not only welcomed him but eventually offered him the opportunity to take over the business. In 2014, Randy and his wife, Lucy, proudly accepted, and since then, they’ve expanded with a franchise program and now operate four locations, with a fifth opening in Memorial this June.
Czech immigrants introduced kolaches to Texas in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Traditionally, kolaches are sweet, round, and open-faced pastries—like the classic cream cheese kolache. However, in Texas, we also use the term “kolache” to refer to meat-filled pastries, though their proper Czech name is klobásníky. No matter what you call them, they’re a delicious staple of Texas culture.
While kolaches have deep Czech roots, they’ve evolved to reflect Houston’s diverse culinary scene. Kolache Shoppe embraces this by offering innovative flavors like Malaysian beef rendang, Creole crawfish, Texas brisket, and short ribs. They also collaborate with local restaurants to introduce exciting monthly specials.
This month, Kolache Shoppe is serving up two limited-time specials in honor of their 55th birthday:
- Crawfish and Andouille Kolache in collaboration with Brennan’s of Houston
- Birthday Cake Kolache
Where to Find Them:
- Greenway Shoppe: Available Thursday through Saturday, starting April 3
- Heights and Pearland Shoppes: Available Friday through Sunday, starting April 4
Kolache Shoppe currently has locations in Greenway, Heights, and Pearland, with another shop north of Dallas in Celina. This summer, they’ll be opening their newest location in Memorial, bringing even more kolache goodness to Houston!
Whether you’re a lifelong kolache lover or new to the tradition, Kolache Shoppe invites you to celebrate 55 years of delicious, handcrafted pastries. Stop by and experience a taste of Texas history—one bite at a time!