Some small towns are known for a water tower or a big fish statue, but Montgomery, Minnesota, is known for a pastry with a name many people mispronounce on the first try. Folks spell it kolacky, kolache, kolachky and a few other creative ways, and nobody in line seems to mind.
One old bakery in this Czech-rooted town has been turning out these filled treats for about a century, and people drive a long way just to fill a box before the shelves run low. Keep reading to learn where it is, why the kolacky matter so much here, and how to time a visit so you get the good stuff.
A Century-Old Bakery on 1st Street South
Montgomery sits in southern Minnesota, a short drive from the Twin Cities, and its main claim to pastry fame is a modest storefront that has outlasted nearly everything around it.
The spot is Franke’s Bakery, found at 200 1st St S, Montgomery, MN 56069, in the United States. It sits right in the heart of town, the kind of address locals can point to without looking up.
Franke’s is a classic hometown bakery. There is no fancy branding, no gimmicks, and no pretending to be anything other than what it has always been.
The shop is best known for kolacky, the Czech filled pastries that give Montgomery much of its identity. Plenty of other baked goods and breads fill the cases too, but the kolacky are the reason out-of-towners mark this place on their maps.
People who pass through often describe it as a step back in time. That feeling is not an accident, since the business has been part of daily life here for about 100 years.
Word has clearly spread beyond town limits. The bakery holds a 4.8-star average across nearly 200 Google write-ups, which is a lot of love for a small shop on a small-town street.
So what keeps a bakery going for a hundred years? The answer starts with its story.
The Story Behind a Hundred Years of Baking
One hundred years is a long time for any business to keep its doors open. For a bakery that opens before sunrise four days a week, it is almost a small miracle.
Franke’s has been serving Montgomery for about a century, and it still carries the feel of a family-run shop. The staff often gets described as conscientious and genuinely welcoming, which fits the family business spirit.
For many locals, this is simply the bakery. It is the only one in town, so generations of families have grown up stopping here for birthdays, holidays and ordinary Saturday mornings.
That long history shows up inside the shop as well. Interesting pieces of local history hang on the walls, giving customers something to study while they wait their turn at the counter.
Some folks remember the place as part of their childhood. Others connect its kolacky to relatives who once baked them at home, so a single bite can bring back a whole family story.
There is a no-fuss quality to the operation that has clearly worked for decades. The focus stays on pastry and bread rather than trends.
Even a sales rep dropping off paperwork once walked away convinced the bakery would be around for another hundred years. That kind of confidence is hard to buy, and easy to earn one kolacky at a time.
Kolacky, the Czech Star of the Counter
Czech roots run deep in Montgomery, and the kolacky is the tastiest proof. These round, soft pastries carry a filling in the center, and they are the item people mention most when they talk about Franke’s.
Spelling is optional here. Signs, customers and family recipe cards might say kolacky, kolache, kolachky or kolotchie, and all of them lead to the same counter.
At Franke’s, the pastry is treated as the main event. Guests arrive asking for them by name, and plenty leave with a box meant for someone back home.
The bun around the filling gets steady praise for being soft, which matters because it is half the pastry. A few people wish for more filling in the middle, so preferences vary, but most leave happy.
For first-timers, Franke’s is a friendly place to try one. One newcomer drove about 70 miles on a gray, rainy day to try a kolacky for the very first time and left wishing the drive were shorter.
Many longtime fans say the pastries remind them of the ones their mothers or aunts made. That homemade connection is a big part of why the line forms.
Of course, choosing just one kolacky is the hard part. The flavor list deserves its own look.
A Flavor Lineup Worth Mapping Out
Raspberry, apricot, blueberry, apple, poppyseed. That is not a grocery list, it is a strategy for anyone standing at the Franke’s counter trying not to panic.
The fruity flavors are the headline act. Raspberry comes up again and again as a favorite, and plenty of people pair it with apple and blueberry for a well-rounded box.
Apricot kolacky have their own loyal fans, who point out how fresh they are. For a more old-world pick, poppyseed kolacky show up as a traditional choice with a following of its own.
There is also a blueberry cream cheese version that has brought back fond family memories for some guests. It is a nice middle ground for anyone who likes a little extra richness.
A simple game plan helps:
First visit: grab a mix of fruit flavors and compare.
Return visit: go all in on your winner, or add poppyseed to stretch your range.
Availability can change through the day, so the full lineup is not guaranteed if you arrive late. On busy mornings, some trays empty out while others are still stocked.
One fan joked about having these shipped to a future mansion every day. Until that lottery ticket pays off, a car trip to Montgomery will have to do.
Kolacky Days and Boxes for Out-of-Town Guests
Montgomery takes its signature pastry seriously enough to name a town celebration after it. Kolacky Days is a local tradition, and Franke’s naturally becomes a key stop when the town turns its attention to Czech heritage.
Even locals who only buy kolacky once a year often make their purchase during Kolacky Days. For many families, a box from Franke’s is part of the season, the same way certain dishes show up every holiday.
The pastries also travel well. Families keep fresh kolacky on hand when guests come in from out of town, turning a simple visit into a small taste of Montgomery hospitality.
Some people have shared Franke’s kolacky with friends near and far. For them, the pastry becomes a way to introduce others to the town without anyone needing a road map.
Family celebrations are another big reason people stock up. Birthdays, gatherings and weekend visits all seem to call for a box on the table.
A tip for festival weekends and holidays: plan ahead. The bakery gets busy, and the smartest move is to arrive early or check about ordering ahead so your box is ready.
A town festival named after a pastry says a lot about local priorities. Here, the priorities are clearly in the right place.
Booths, Local History and Small Town Chatter
Everyone knows everyone at Franke’s, and they check in on each other while they wait. That neighborly vibe is a big part of the appeal.
The staff wins steady praise for being friendly, kind and easy to talk to. Even a longtime customer who thinks the hype is a bit much admits the team is beyond welcoming.
Seating is limited but available. A few booths let you enjoy your treat right there, and there are some drink options to go with it.
Some guests wish there were more seats for a longer visit. On a busy morning, taking your box to go is often the easier choice.
Who is this place for? A quick breakdown:
Families: parents stop in for an occasional treat for the kids on the way to school.
Road trippers: people passing through often call it a lucky find.
History fans: the local history on the walls makes the wait go faster.
Nostalgia seekers: many say it feels like an old-fashioned hometown bakery from years past.
A regular visitor who drops off a boat in Montgomery each spring and fall makes a point of stopping in every time. That kind of habit speaks louder than any sign in the window.
Hours, Prices and the Early Bird Advantage
Timing is everything at Franke’s, and the calendar is shorter than you might expect. The bakery keeps a four-day schedule, so a Monday road trip will end in disappointment.
Here is the weekly schedule:
Wednesday to Friday: 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday: 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunday to Tuesday: closed.
Early arrivals get the best selection. Saturday mornings can get busy, and by around 10 a.m. some trays may already be empty.
Prices stay friendly on the wallet, generally in the $1 to $10 range. Many guests call the baked goods very reasonably priced and affordable, even with some price increases over the years.
Need a big order or a guaranteed pickup? Some regulars call ahead and have their items waiting, which is a smart trick for holidays, gatherings or Kolacky Days.
The bakery also keeps a Facebook group, which is a handy place to check before you head out. Schedules can change around holidays, so a quick look can save a wasted trip.
Getting there is simple, since the shop sits right on 1st Street South in the middle of Montgomery. Set your alarm, bring a little cash or card, and leave space in the car for boxes.
Why the Drive to Montgomery Pays Off
Not every trip needs a big attraction at the end. Sometimes a century-old bakery and a box of Czech pastries is plenty of reason to hit the road.
Franke’s has earned its place in Montgomery by doing the same things well for a very long time. The kolacky lead the way, the staff keeps things friendly, and the prices stay easy to live with.
It is not a flashy stop. The seating is limited, the hours are short, and popular flavors can sell out on a busy morning.
Still, that simple approach is exactly why so many people love it. The bakery feels real, local and rooted in the town’s Czech story.
Opinions are not unanimous, and a few longtime customers feel the buzz runs a little high. Even so, most who stop in walk out with a full box and plans to return.
First-timers can treat it as a small history lesson with a pastry in hand. Longtime fans can treat it as a return to the kolacky they grew up with.
Go early, pick a few fruit flavors, and take a moment to check out the local history on the walls. Then decide for yourself whether the line was worth it, though the smart money says you will be back for a second box.
Enjoyed this story?
Add Fast Food Club as a preferred source to see more of our reporting on Google.