Houston’s Kolache Shoppe Launches Location In Kingwood

By: Kolache Shoppe | 0 Shares 292 Reads

January 17, 2023 // Franchising.com // HOUSTON, Texas - Kolache Shoppe now welcomes patrons to a newly opened location in Kingwood, Texas, just north of Houston. Owners Lucy and Randy Hines are pleased to partner with franchisees Jordan and Kristy Armendinger to expand their bakery to 4521 Kingwood Drive, within the mixed-use shopping center at Main Street Kingwood.

“We’re thrilled to see the next chapter of Kolache Shoppe unfold,” says Randy Hines, who took over the operation with his wife in 2014, when longtime owner Erwin Ahrens retired, and have since launched a franchise program.

Native Houstonians and residents of Houston’s Heights neighborhood, the Armendingers became avid fans of Kolache Shoppe from frequenting their neighborhood location. Learning of the opportunity to open a franchise location seemed kismet, as the couple has had a long-standing desire to open a family business. Combining Jordan’s business administration background and Kristy’s banking and finance experience, the partnership with the Hineses was a natural fit. Moreover, Kristy came to understand and enjoy the ins and outs of owning a franchise from a young age, as her mother owns franchise locations of another bakery.

“As native Houstonians, we grew up with kolaches,” says Kristy Armendinger. “Whether on a lazy weekend morning or heading to school, we always found our way to Kolache Shoppe. Now, as part of the Kolache Shoppe family, we want to pass down a little piece of our childhood. We look forward to sharing our love for our favorite Texas breakfast while becoming an impactful part of the Kingwood community.”

The newly renovated bakery space has been well-styled to echo the fresh, inviting design of Kolache Shoppe’s location in Houston’s Heights neighborhood, with chevron-patterned white tile backsplashes, bold navy and white wallpaper reminiscent of an Old Country quilt and an arched interior window with blue shutters, like that of their logo. A couple of tables inside and another on a petite dog-friendly patio allow guests to linger, but the Armendingers anticipate the bulk of patrons will grab-and-go and have installed a walk-up window to manage pick-up orders.

As is the case at existing Kolache Shoppe locations, the cornerstone of the Kingwood bakery remains the original, decades-old recipe for their enriched yeast dough. Fluffy and lightly sweet, the Czech-inspired, Texas-influenced pastry dough is the perfect foil to the Shoppe’s two dozen signature sweet, savory and breakfast-style fillings, as well as monthly specials, all of which will be available on the Kingwood menu.

Dedicated patrons to area farmers markets, the Hineses are committed to sourcing as many ingredients as possible from local purveyors, including through collaborations to develop their seasonal specials. The Armendingers will follow suit, making small ingredient swaps here and there, including sourcing smoked brisket from neighboring Tin Roof BBQ (Humble, Texas). Kingwood will offer the same specialty espresso drinks and drip coffee as the Heights bakery, instead sourcing locally roasted beans from nearby Geva (Spring, Texas).

“We have the support of Kolache Shoppe’s leadership team in all things, from equipment to ingredient sourcing and implementation, design and much more, all of which will be invaluable,” says Kristy. “We’re very proud to become stewards of the brand and its product, which is so easy to love.”

To accommodate early morning commuters, Kolache Shoppe Kingwood is open Tuesday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. On weekdays from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m., catch the Late Bird happy hour, during which kolaches are buy one-get one free until close. The bakery is closed Mondays. Curbside pickup is available via online ordering. Delivery is offered via Uber and DoorDash.

SOURCE Kolache Shoppe

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