the shoppe heads south

Piping-hot Houston kolache bakery opens fourth location in bustling 'burb

Kolache Shoppe is coming to Pearland

Photo by Carla Gomez

One of Houston’s favorite kolache bakeries is coming to Pearland. Kolache Shoppe will open its fourth Houston-area location this summer in Pearland’s Broadway Plaza shopping center at 11940 Broadway St.

As with the bakery’s Kingwood location that opened last year, owners Lucy and Randy Hines have partnered with a franchisee to expand their footprint. Franchisees Cecilia and Luis Rey describe themselves as loyal customers of the bakery’s Heights locations who wanted to own a business.

Kolache Shoppe Pearland franchisees Kolache Shoppe owners Randy and Lucy Hines with Pearland franchisees Cecilia and Luis Rey.Photo by Dragana Harris

“We love Kolache Shoppe’s warm atmosphere and have always felt welcomed as soon as we walk through the door,” Cecilia Rey said in a statement. “We want to bring that to Pearland. Not just a place to grab a quick breakfast but where our customers feel like they are a part of the family and look forward to coming to our bakery.”

Like the Heights location that Rey patronizes, the Pearland Kolache Shoppe will feature a drive-thru window for expedited service. Customers who walk-in will find the bakery’s signature white subway tile and blue-and-white wallpaper. The location's proximity to Shadow Creek High School should help keep it busy.

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 — including regular collaborations with chefs from top Houston restaurants — keep things fresh.

“We are thrilled to have the Reys share our time-tested kolaches with the residents of Pearland, one of the fastest-growing towns in Texas and the community they call home,” Randy Hines said. “Luis and Cecilia are a natural fit for our company culture. We can't wait to cheer them on as they introduce themselves to Pearland’s breakfast scene."

openings news-you-can-eat

a spoonful of sugar

New Mexican eatery sweetens Houston with 150 spirits and bold flavors

Courtesy of Mexican Sugar

Mexican Sugar is coming to Regent Square in December.

A Dallas-based Mexican restaurant is coming to Houston. Mexican Sugar will open its first Houston location in Montrose this December.

Located next to Georgia James in the Regent Square mixed-use development, Mexican Sugar will occupy a two-story, 13,000-square-foot building. All that room offers seating for 375 as well as two private dining rooms with full audio-visual capabilities. Both the upstairs and downstairs patios will have a view of nearby Buffalo Bayou Park.

Its part of FB Society, the Dallas-based hospitality group behind Whiskey Cake, Sixty Vines, and Haywire, the Texas-inspired comfort food restaurant that opened its first Houston-area location earlier this year. Mexican Sugar has three locations in the Dallas area: Plano, Las Colinas, and Uptown Dallas.

In a release, Mexican Sugar touts its use of seasonal ingredients. It also makes its tortillas by hand. Menu highlights include skirt steak, lobster fundido, and a bone-in pork chop. At brunch, look for options such as cajeta French toast, Benedictos Rancheros, and vanilla-cinnamon pancakes.

Agave fans will find plenty of choices courtesy of more the 150 tequilas and mezcals. They’re available in individual pours as well as in flights that allow customers to compare the flavors of the different spirits.

“Our goal is to create a dining experience that blends bold Mexican flavors with our signature style of hospitality that stays two steps ahead,” Justin Beam, Mexican Sugar’s director of operations, said in a statement. “We’re excited to offer Houstonians an immersive Mexican experience in a fresh, light, and approachable way.”

Courtesy of Mexican Sugar

Mexican Sugar is coming to Regent Square in December.

news-you-can-eat openings mexican sugar