12 June 18 - 24, 2026 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents It Has Risen Kuluntu Bakery finally gets a home for all. BY LISA PETTY S tephanie Leichtle-Chalklen launched Kuluntu Bakery in 2018 while living with her hus- band, Warren, in his native South Africa. There, the long- time baker perfected her sourdough loaves as well as Cape Town favorites like buttery, cream-drenched malva pudding cake. When the couple returned to Leichtle-Chalklen’s hometown of Dallas, she continued running the business from their kitchen. Fast-forward eight years, and Kuluntu has amassed a loyal local following via pop- ups, deliveries and special events. This week, the bakery took a big step with the de- but of its first permanent brick-and-mortar location at Cedar Crest’s new East Dock de- velopment. “It has been a long time coming,” read the Instagram post announcing the new shop. “‘A labor of love’ and ‘It takes a village’ are two ad- ages that have never been more true.” Recentyly, we dodged summer storms to grab a cin- namon roll, croissants and a sourdough loaf. The space is warm and inviting. Families and neighbors spread across tables and areas to enjoy a slow coffee and spectacular pastries. The case is refilled often from the large bakery in the back of the space. The coffee options are basic: drip cof- fees, lattes, flat white and rooibos teas. A Community Space The word “Kuluntu” means “community” in the South African language of the amaXhosa culture, and it’s more than just a name. In addition to earning a James Beard nomina- tion and many other accolades for the bak- ery, Leichtle-Chalklen has a master’s of public service and administration from Texas A&M. She combines the two to run the business as a nonprofit social enterprise in support of a timely cause. “Our mission is to co-create a more equi- table food system by centering women and humanizing food workers,” she says. “The profits that we get from the bakery go to funding our programming.” Kuluntu’s Women’s Care Collective, for example, provides learning, professional de- velopment and wellness opportunities. The Community of Changemakers program fo- cuses on education around the food system. Looking ahead, the new physical location will include more ways for customers to en- gage with the mission, including literature and on-site classes. Kuluntu Bakery, 900 E. Clarendon Drive will be open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Thursday through Sunday. ▼ WORLD CUP PUBLIC TRANSIT TO THE BEAVER WORLD CUP VISITORS IN FORT WORTH CAN TAKE A BUS TO, YOU GUESSED IT, BUC-EE’S. BY LAUREN DREWES DANIELS I loved Buc-ee’s before it was cool to love Buc-ee’s. Since the days when I was driv- ing my toddlers to the beach — stopping at the store in Madisonville along Interstate 45, which pioneered the chain’s massive travel center model — the world’s greatest gas station has become a movement. Bor- rowing a phrase from the band Atmosphere, it’s bigger than cigarettes and bigger than breast implants. In Texas, anyway. As World Cuppers descend on the Lone Star State, there are a few things that might shock them. For one, our open carry gun laws. Hopefully, there’s not too much of that; even natives aren’t quite used to it or comfortable with it. Buc-ee’s is another mind-altering Ameri- can phenomenon. “A gas station?” Yes, a gas station. But a small department store and tourist center smashed into one — ripped on ’roids — might be a better description. Recently, a friend visiting from East LA drove an hour out of their way to go to a Buc-ee’s. He got a neck pillow splashed with the Buc-ee’s logo and FaceTimed his family back home to take their orders. Imagine that: Buc-ee’s merch in East LA. The food is pretty good, especially for a gas station. Even the barbecue isn’t bad. The fried apple pies are a personal favorite, as are the breakfast tacos. The sweets from the bakery are probably “too sweet” for Europe- ans, but a bite or two won’t hurt anyone. The food is simply overwhelming to ex- plain. Just go. The Trinity Metro in Tarrant County is doing heroic work this summer. In addition to running a train to far east Fort Worth (and then a shuttle to the stadium) for the matches, it’s also taking visitors to hot spots around Fort Worth on non-game days. Guests can hop on a sleek premium coach, the Cowtown Visitor Shuttle, with stops near the Stockyards, the zoo, down- town and Six Flags. Or head north to Tanger Outlets and Buc- ee’s. They’re label- ing it a “shopping” trip, which works. (You can — and should — do all your Christmas shopping at Buc- ee’s.) The outlet center, just across the road from the gas station, has about 75 shops and stores, where you can buy anything from an engagement ring to a new wardrobe or get pretzel bites. Buc-ee’s has become a small department store. There’s jewelry, cigarettes, snacks, drinks, coffee, fudge, kolaches, beef jerky, sandwiches, home decor, candles and just so | CITY OF ATE | ▼ Dish “OUR MISSION IS TO CO- CREATE A MORE EQUITABLE FOOD SYSTEM.” Lauren Drewes Daniels Lauren Drewes Daniels A stunning loaf of sourdough from Kuluntu Bakery. Tell your visiting overseas friends this shrine to the god of gas stations requires votive candles.
