WEST, Texas -- The Czech Stop gas station and deli in West, Texas, is a well-known hub for locals as well as travelers passing between Dallas and Austin. Its neighboring Little Czech Bakery has become famous for its kolaches and kitsch in a region with a rich Czech heritage, according to a report by The Huffington Post.
The businesses, located off I-35, three miles from the West Fertilizer Co.plant that was the site of a massive explosion last week that killed at least 14 people, became an essential part of the town's relief efforts in the disaster.
According to report by Buzzfeed, when the explosion rocked the town around 8 p.m. Wednesday night, the 24-hour Czech Stop retail outlet kept its doors open and welcomed the injured and shaken to take shelter.
Czech Stop employees rushed to the bakery to help provide food and comfort to the many locals who had been affected, The American-Statesman reported.
"We did whatever we could to make them feel comfortable," Czech Stop president Barbara Schissler told Mother Jones.
Employees feared the ceiling might buckle after the blast, but when Schlisser determined that there was no extreme damage, she simply turned off the gasoline dispensers in case of another explosion and kept serving baked goods and providing water to the injured or first responders.
"We've never seen anything like this, but we've never closed a single day in 29 years," Schissler said. "You bet we're staying open."
The Shell-branded retailer West Czech Stop Inc.'s website says, "For many years, Czech Stop has been promoting that Czech Heritage spirit so popular in the small town of West, Texas. Whether serving the neighbors down the street or travelers off of I-35, we take great pride in providing every customer with complete satisfaction."
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