< Back to Oral History project: The Keepers of Kolaches: The Evolutions of Texas-Czech Baking
< Back to Oral History project: Southern Baking
ORAL HISTORY
Teresa James
Hruska's Bakery and Store
Opened by her great-grandparents in 1912, Teresa James is the third-generation owner of the rest stop Hruska’s Bakery and Store, which has become an institution along Highway 71. One of Teresa’s first jobs at age eleven was helping local Agnes Polasek bake and prepare kolaches that were sold in the store. When state law forbade off-site bakeries like Ms. Polasek’s, for a few years kolaches were unavailable at Hruska’s. Then, after stepping into a management role in 1995, Teresa made it her mission to bring them back by building an in-house bakery of their own. Years later, kolaches are integral to Hruska’s brand, and the place is a treasured stop for travelers driving between Houston and Austin. While hesitant to share her sales numbers, Teresa has overseen Hruska’s growth amid multiple expansions. When asked about her hopes for the business’s future, she says, “Bigger!” Despite now employing more than fifty people, her commitment to quality still dictates she starts her workday each morning at 1 a.m. to prep dough.
