West's Iconic Kolache Shop Still Baking Despite Disaster

West's iconic kolache shop still baking despite disaster Express-News Copyright 2013 Express-News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Published 10:26 pm, Thursday, April 18, 2013 WEST — For nearly three decades, millions have driven through this small community on Interstate 35, but their only knowledge of it has been the Czech Stop, a beacon of fruit-topped pastry goodness that is always open for the peckish traveler. The store is an homage to Czech culture, selling bumper stickers and shirts with Czech slogans. [...] as now, Barbara Schissler's bakery and convenience store has been West's public face. [...] it was Thursday afternoon — less than 18 hours after the fertilizer plant blast left scores injured and an untold number dead — the Czech Stop was still baking. Glass broke, and the roof panels over a desk in Schissler's office were bowed, caused by the shock wave that rolled over town after the blast. Schissler was working on the store's payroll Thursday, a task made more difficult by a depleted workforce; several employees lost their own homes in the blast or had relatives injured.