Kolache Shoppe Now Open in Houston’s Memorial Neighborhood
Owners Lucy & Randy Hines Partner with Director of Operations Michael Horne on Fifth Houston Location of the Historic Bakery
Grand Opening Events coming in November
Kolache Shoppe, the iconic Houston bakery known since 1970 for its scratch-made Texas-Czech pastries, is officially welcoming patrons to its newest location in Houston’s Memorial neighborhood.
Located at 10321 Katy Fwy D1 within the newly revitalized Benignus Plaza, the beloved breakfast pastry destination joins a roster of standout eateries, including the Pit Room, Katz’s Deli, PINCHO, Velvet Taco and Goode Co. Seafood.
Owners Lucy and Randy Hines—who took over the bakery from founder Erwin Ahrens in 2014—have partnered as joint owners of the Memorial Shoppe with Director of Operations Michael Horne. Kolache Shoppe will celebrate a Grand Opening Week beginning Monday, Nov. 3, through Sunday, Nov. 9, complete with daily specials and community events.
Grand Opening Events
Next month, the community is invited to celebrate with daily deals and giveaways throughout the week:
- Monday, Nov. 3: Loyalty Member Appreciation Day — Loyalty members will receive a complimentary sweet or savory kolache.
- Tuesday, Nov. 4: Early Bird Gift Cards — The first 50 guests in line will receive a $25 gift card, redeemable at any Kolache Shoppe location.
- Wednesday, Nov. 5: Benefit Day! — 20 percent of all proceeds will benefit the Houston Food Bank.
- Thursday, Nov. 6: Customer Appreciation Day — Buy one, get one pastries for all guests while supplies last.
- Friday, Nov. 7: Free Coffee Drink Day — Complimentary coffee drinks all day; the first 25 guests receive a free Kolache Shoppe mug. Loyalty members will be entered to win a free weekly cup of coffee for a year.
- Saturday, Nov. 8: Free Savory Kolaches — Complimentary savory kolaches while supplies last. One per person.
- Sunday: Free Sweet Kolaches — Complimentary sweet kolaches while supplies last. One per person.
- All Week: Bonus Points Day — Loyalty members earn three times the points on all purchases and are entered to win a Kolache Shoppe Swag Basket, including a T-shirt, mug and $100 gift card. Sign up for the loyalty program by Sunday to qualify.
When Horne joined Kolache Shoppe in 2018 as a grad student looking for a part-time job, he never imagined it would lead to bakery ownership. Yet after discovering a passion for hospitality—coupled with family lineage tracing back to Czechoslovakia—it clearly was meant to be.
“Opening a new location as co-owner has given me a new respect for what our franchisees and other owners have been through,” says Horne. “That said, this next step brings me closer to the brand and allows me to serve in a different way. We’ve built an excellent team to maintain the level of service we’re known for and are excited to be open and operating within the Memorial community.”
Conveniently located on the south side of I-10, the Memorial Shoppe is an ideal stop for inbound commuters heading downtown and has close proximity to Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center and several nearby schools including Hedwig Village, Spring Branch, and Memorial Middle.
The Memorial location serves Kolache Shoppe’s full lineup of sweet, savory and breakfast-style kolaches, made from the bakery’s original, decades-old dough recipe created in 1970 by founder Erwin Ahrens and a few Czech grandmas. Fluffy and lightly sweet, the dough provides the perfect base for two dozen signature fillings—from classic fruit- and cheese-filled pastries to Tex-ified favorites such as smoked brisket, egg and cheddar or kielbasa, cheese and jalapeño.
The Memorial Shoppe features locally roasted Boomtown Coffee for drip, espresso and specialty drinks. Like its sister locations, the bakery will feature rotating monthly specials created in collaboration with local chefs and purveyors.
Hours are Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pre-orders and catering info are available at kolacheshoppe.com. For more information, visit kolacheshoppe.com. Follow the bakery on Facebook, Instagram and X.
Featured photo: Carla Gomez; Photos: Becca Wright