What was this place?

I'm trying to remember the name of a place that was out Hurtsbourne, past the movie theatre, and on the left. It was in a strip mall and they made these little hot pocket type sandwiches (whose name also escapes me) with different fillings, both sweet and savory. It was very affordable and pretty tasty. The dough was very yeasty. I was there about 4 or 5 years ago and cannot remember the name. Does it sound familiar to anyone? The name of the little pocket sandwich that they made was in the title. Anyone know if it's still around?

They made bialys, Beth. Stuffed with a variety of things. Cannot remember the name either.

That was it!

Bialys - they were yummy.

Any idea if they're still out there?

Kolache Factory. I lived a hop, skip and a jump from the place. Was very yummo.

http://www.kolachefactory.com/

Oh Doogy you're right, it was the Kolache factory and they were kolaches, not bialys.

Looks like they're completely gone from the area. Bummer. They were tasty and really affordable. I could get lunch for about $3 or $4, depending on what I got.
It looks like from the website that they are francised. Anyone want to open a Kolache Factory? Anyone?

[Robin Garr]

Beth, as I recall, kolaches are a Czech treat that's popular out in Iowa and Nebraska, where a lot of Czech-American families settled (and where Antonin Dvorak visited before writing his New World symphony). The chain is based out that way, and they sought to build a business model on getting the rest of America to like kolaches as much as the farm belt Czechs do.

But as so often happens when a new food form is introduced, for every big hit like pizza, there are a 100 concepts that just don't make it. I suspect it was even worse because, like all chains, they landed in the suburbs, where new food ideas aren't always received gratefully. Can you imaging spotting a bunch of people on their way to Cheddar's or the Cheesecake Factory and talking them into going out for a bag of kolaches instead?

Oh Doogy you're right, it was the Kolache factory and they were kolaches, not bialys.

Looks like they're completely gone from the area. Bummer. They were tasty and really affordable. I could get lunch for about $3 or $4, depending on what I got.
It looks like from the website that they are francised. Anyone want to open a Kolache Factory? Anyone?

Can you imaging spotting a bunch of people on their way to Cheddar's or the Cheesecake Factory and talking them into going out for a bag of kolaches instead?

Robin must be feeling better.

Can you imaging spotting a bunch of people on their way to Cheddar's or the Cheesecake Factory and talking them into going out for a bag of kolaches instead?

Robin Robin Robin, generalizing (and putting us down) yet one more time . . .

1. We live outside the Watterson, so technically I guess we're in the burbs

2. Several years ago we went to a Sat early afternoon movie at Showcase, and afterwards wanted a snack around 3:30

3. We headed out to Max & Erma's (major chain) to split a burger, but saw the Kolache Factory and drove right in!

That particular strip of Hurstbourne leads between the GE plant and the J'ville and the Hurstbourne burbs, arguably the "center" of what there is of Louisville's small eastern-European area. I think their problem was more that (1) it was not inexpensive if you wanted a meal out of it, and (2) our Czech pop'n is tiny, and (3) their advertising was limited, so if one didn't know what the name referred to going in you didn't have enough impressions to learn.

You will find a tough time convincing me that it would have been hugely successful in the Highlands!

[Robin Garr]

Robin must be feeling better.

Baby steps. Baby steps, I tellya ...

[Robin Garr]

(and putting us down)

Andrew, only if you self-define "us" as "the kind of suburbanite who enjoys dining at Cheddar's and the Cheesecake Factory." Of course both the suburbs and the city are heterogeneous, but there are demographic tendencies,and that's a strong contributor among the many factors that cause Cheddar's and Chang's to do so well in the East End, while Seviche closes in less than a year.

I doubt Kolache Factory would have done well anywhere outside Czech-American country, frankly. But I do suspect that if it had been placed in the Highlands, it might have found a few more adventurous folks eager to chow down on a bag of any sweet or savory fried munchie in the middle of the night. And in the Iroquois area, who knows? Lots of Eastern European immigrants out there.

All I'm saying is that the suburbs TEND to be less inviting to offbeat ethnic food ideas, and that a doomed concept probably found its way to a faster death because of its choice of location. When I read your post in full, I think we generally agree on most of the points you make, frankly.

Beth, as I recall, kolaches are a Czech treat that's popular out in Iowa and Nebraska, where a lot of Czech-American families settled (and where Antonin Dvorak visited before writing his New World symphony). The chain is based out that way, and they sought to build a business model on getting the rest of America to like kolaches as much as the farm belt Czechs do.

But as so often happens when a new food form is introduced, for every big hit like pizza, there are a 100 concepts that just don't make it. I suspect it was even worse because, like all chains, they landed in the suburbs, where new food ideas aren't always received gratefully. Can you imaging spotting a bunch of people on their way to Cheddar's or the Cheesecake Factory and talking them into going out for a bag of kolaches instead?

Oh Doogy you're right, it was the Kolache factory and they were kolaches, not bialys.

Looks like they're completely gone from the area. Bummer. They were tasty and really affordable. I could get lunch for about $3 or $4, depending on what I got.
It looks like from the website that they are francised. Anyone want to open a Kolache Factory? Anyone?

Just to provide accurate information, Kolache Factory is not based in the Nebraksa and Iowa area. According to their website, http://www.kolachefactory.com/about/, this is what they say.

Kolache Factory is privately owned and operated, and headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Not knocking anyone, just providing accurate info.

If your in the mood for a road trip...


Company: The Kolache Factory
Address: 9650 Allisonville Rd. Indianapolis IN 46038
Phone: 317-842-7200
Fax: 317-842-7800
URL: http://www.kolachefactory.com
Email:
Description: In The Shops at White Oak 96th Street & Allisonville Rd.

If your in the mood for a road trip...


Company: The Kolache Factory
Address: 9650 Allisonville Rd. Indianapolis IN 46038
Phone: 317-842-7200
Fax: 317-842-7800
URL: http://www.kolachefactory.com
Email:
Description: In The Shops at White Oak 96th Street & Allisonville Rd.

I am going to Indy for the next 2 weeks and have mentioned this to my sweetie who lives there. If anyone here is gonna be in the area look me up. You can contact me here or at 502 533-2300. I also plan on going to an Afghani place in Bloomington, some sort of taco place on the southside and a great BBQ place named Squealer's in Mooresville. Indy doesn't have the indie foodie scene as does the Ville (pardon the pun), but I plan on finding all the off the beaten track places. My sweetie is gonna learn a lot more about her town than she knows. I have already taken her to Shiraz, Bombay Grill, Liangs, Gelato Gilberto and Juan's taco trailer. Please note that all of those places are outside of the Watterson. We have also visited several ethnic groceries here in the Ville. She is actually contemplating a move.

My take on the Kolache Factory when it was in J-Town was that the location was never really right. It was tucked back in that little strip mall and with very little advertising you would have to know what a Kolache was to go out of your way there. I probably went there once every two weeks - (loved the jalepeno Kolaches!) and it had a nice clientele you never got the sense that it caught on.

The one on Allisonville Road is just past the 96th St intersection on the left next to a CVS. I use them for breakfast all the time when I have team meetings as our office is just off 96th Street. I think I've turned about a dozen people who actually live in Fishers and Carmel onto the store.

[Robin Garr]

Just to provide accurate information, Kolache Factory is not based in the Nebraksa and Iowa area. According to their website, http://www.kolachefactory.com/about/, this is what they say.

Kolache Factory is privately owned and operated, and headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Not knocking anyone, just providing accurate info.

Read it all, though:

... one of the primary goals of the founders was to explain to consumers what kolaches were, since few people had ever heard of them in 1982. Although kolaches originated in Eastern Europe centuries ago, many consumers in Houston had not had the opportunity to taste them before.

Czech-American immigrants brought Kolaches to America in the Farm Belt after the Civil War. <shrug>