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http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/04/czech-stop-open-during-west-texas-fertilizer-explosionWhile West, Texas, Burned, Its Famous Czech Bakery Kept the Kolaches Coming
Hopeful that the roof wouldn't cave in, this bakery stayed open after the blast to feed victims and responders.
By Dana Liebelson, Jaeah Lee, and Tasneem Raja | Thu Apr. 18, 2013 1:21 PM PDT
There's a Czech bakery, deli, and gas station combo in tiny West, Texas that's world-famous for serving up fruit kolaches and hot chubbies to locals and tourists driving on I-35 between Dallas and Austin, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the last 29 years. Last night was no exception. In the wake of the massive explosion and fire that rocked a fertilizer plant just three miles down the road, Czech Stop kept its doors openand the kolaches comingalmost without interruption.
"I rushed up there after it happened because one of my employees said the ceiling was falling in," says Barbara Schissler, president of the Czech Stop empire, who's worked there since it opened in 1983. "One of our freelance carpenters recommended that we close the doors, but when I showed up, I saw only the ceiling tiles were buckling, so I reopened. The only thing we did was cut the gas pumps, because we were expecting another blast."
When the plant exploded at 8 p.m., there were about seven employees on shift. Fifteen minutes later, fire trucks and police cars started rushing down the street to the site of the accident. Not long after, injured victims started walked in.
"Two women in a truck stopped by. One's leg was bandaged and bulging, and she had a few cuts on her arms and legs," says Schissler. "I don't know why they decided to stop here first. When you're in shock, you're not always thinking. We did whatever we could to make them feel comfortable, gave them ice water." Several more people with cuts and bruises stopped by through the night, but Schissler said her usual customers were missing. "All the bakery regulars were out there on the scene, helping out."
slackmaster
(60,567 posts)Horse with no Name
(33,956 posts)oh my! I drove from North to South Texas every weekend for 3 years and always had to stop there!
Daemonaquila
(1,712 posts)I drive through that part of TX sometimes several times per month. They have fabulous road grub.
mike_c
(36,281 posts)Now I want one of those pastries.
kentauros
(29,414 posts)Although, they won't ship pastries if the temperatures are over 50F. We just had a cold front go through, so maybe you can support them while the cold lasts
http://www.czechstop.net/our-menu/
LeftInTX
(25,368 posts)Many were concerned last night that this bakery was lost.
snagglepuss
(12,704 posts)Good people.
Stop there all the time when heading down to Austin from DFW and back.
kentauros
(29,414 posts)on 290 somewhere. That's my route to Austin. However, recently we stopped in Brenham for some "sawdust pie"
TexasTowelie
(112,236 posts)Three-egg omelets for about $3.50. They also have great pizza, both New York and Chicago style. It's a bit of a dive, but the food is worth it!
kentauros
(29,414 posts)I remembered someone on the Texas group was, so thanks for the reminder
And while I'm not much of an egg-eater any more, my GF still loves 'em, so we'll be sure to stop there next time. We both love good pizza, though, so I'll be sure to remember Mobius.
We stopped at Must Be Heaven, thanks to an article in a recent issue of Texas Highways on Brenham. She's big on thrift shops, and we found one that benefits a hospice (can't recall the name right now.)
Oh, one thing I was quite pleasantly surprised to see there, too: public restrooms. They were everywhere when I visited New Zealand, but so rare here that it's always "refreshing" to see. And they were nice, too, well-kept, and not "trashed" as one would expect in bigger cities.
panader0
(25,816 posts)Daemonaquila
(1,712 posts)It's a sweet dough, but the fillings are endless. If you're a traditionalist, you probably go for poppyseed or apricot. But there are sausage kolaches (in Texas the jalepeno sausage and cheese go fast, and boy are they good), philly steak kolaches, apple and cinnamon kolaches...
longship
(40,416 posts)R&K
Trailrider1951
(3,414 posts)my sister in FT. Worth.
alarimer
(16,245 posts)If you are driving on I-35 and see the exit, please stop. It is well worth your while.
dem in texas
(2,674 posts)I can't image driving down I-35 to Austin and not stopping for kolaches and coffee at West.
Manifestor_of_Light
(21,046 posts)Especially the bottom left one--a rectangular covered roll.
I like prune and poppy seed but those are often hard to find.
I had authentic ones (closed, no icing on top) once at a Czech wedding in Moulton, Texas.
Ilsa
(61,695 posts)Blue Owl
(50,407 posts)CBGLuthier
(12,723 posts)Because otherwise they would have to eat that shit from the Sonic next door.