Popular Ahwatukee bakery, The Kolache Cafe, is planning to open two more locations by the end of the year, one in Gilbert and another in East Mesa.
The Gilbert location will be found at Val Vista and Mercy, just south of Loop 202; while the Mesa site will be at Ellsworth and Elliott, according to Mouth by Southwest. Both locations are being built from the ground up, so timelines can change, but the target date for both sites is currently October 2023. Co-owners Jose and Bebe Leal introduced kolaches to Ahwatukee residents in 2020 and have proven that the versatile Czech pastries are a hit in the neighborhood.
When the new locations open, customers can expect nearly 30 kinds of traditional fruit-filled kolaches, with simple to complex flavors, such as apple Bavarian cream. While many of these are sweet, there are also a handful of savory kolaches, with stuffings such as bacon, egg, and cheese; Italian sausage and gravy; and brisket and mashed potato. All of the kolaches, whether they’re traditional Czech or Texas-style savory, are made fresh daily. The Kolache Cafe will also serve various drinks, such as coffee and Kolache Blast energy drinks.
The Leals plan to prepare all of the dough and fillings at the Ahwatukee location on the northeast corner of Ray and Ranch Circle, then combine and bake everything in the morning at each store. By doing this, they will guarantee the freshest pastries that are made daily. This is just one of the many reasons why The Kolache Cafe is becoming a popular neighborhood spot. In 2021, the Nextdoor app voted the restaurant a neighborhood favorite in the best family restaurant in the Phoenix category.
