The DC kolache craze is about to get bigger: Republic Kolache will begin selling their Texas-Czech pastries from a Union Market stall starting this weekend. The longterm pop-up will operate from 9 am to 4 pm on Saturdays and Sundays–and eventually Fridays–through at least early March.
After weeks of catering to crowds during pop-up Kolache Saturdays at American Ice Co., co-owners Chris Svetlik and Brian Stanford are looking forward to expanded hours. Offerings will include six sweet and savory creations such as half-smoke, jalapeno, and cheddar. The crew also plans to team up with Red Apron‘s Nate Anda for a collaborative kolache. New to the menu is a poppyseed version, which Svetlik’s Czech grandmother made while he was growing up in Texas. “It’s a very distinctive flavor,” Svetlik says. “It’s a love it or hate it kind of thing.”
While the kolache is a time-honored emblem of Texan pride, many people further north have never heard of it.
“Union Market represents a moment for us to go a little broader and go into educational mode, serving to folks who didn’t grow up with it,” says Svetlik.
Eventually the pair will open their own brick-and-mortar shop, though they can’t say when that will be.
Greta started as an editorial fellow in January 2016 and joined as a full-time staff member that August. She now works as a web producer and writer. She was previously an intern at Slate and National Geographic and graduated from the University of Missouri’s Journalism School. She lives in Adams Morgan.
