the shoppe heads north
Longtime Houston kolache bakery rises in Kingwood with sweet and savory fare and dog-friendly patio
A Houston kolache staple has arrived in Kingwood. Kolache Shoppe opened its third Houston-area location at 4521 Kingwood Dr.
Open since 1970, Kolache Shoppe is known for its Czech-inspired, sweet and savory pastries that come with both traditional fruit toppings and a wide array of meat fillings. Seasonal specials — currently cranberry & cream and a Bacon Jalapeño Popper Sausage sourced from Blood Bros. BBQ — keep things fresh.
The Kingwood location is different from the Greenway Plaza and Heights bakeries in a few ways. Most importantly, it's Kolache Shoppe's first franchised outpost. Franchisees Jordan and Kristy Armendinger took their backgrounds in business administration and finance and applied them to owning a small business.
“As native Houstonians, we grew up with kolaches,” Kristy Armendinger said in a statement. “Whether on a lazy weekend morning or heading to school, we always found our way to Kolache Shoppe. We look forward to sharing our love for our favorite Texas breakfast while becoming an impactful part of the Kingwood community.”
The Armendingers have made a couple of tweaks to their menu to suit local tastes. Briskets come from Humble favorite Tin Roof BBQ, and locally roasted Geva Coffee has been substituted for the Boomtown blends served inside the loop.
In terms of design, the 1,200-square-foot space looks like the Heights shop. Blue and white wallpaper mimics the bakery's logo, and a dog-friendly patio allows for a limited amount of dine-in. A soon-to-be-installed takeout window will expedite to-go service.
“We’re thrilled to see the next chapter of Kolache Shoppe unfold,” added Kolache Shoppe co-owner Randy Hines. “In the bakery’s sixth decade of operation, we look forward to serving a broader market, as well as providing the Armendingers and others the opportunity to grow with us as we introduce Czech kolaches, made with what I believe is the best kolache dough in the Houston area, to the Kingwood community.”