Today we’d like to introduce you to Marco Reznick.
Hi Marco, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My parents, Francis and Leonardo, moved to Houston from Mexico City in 1994 with me and my two older sisters. I was about a year and a half old when we moved. The rest of the family stayed back to live in Mexico City while only my immediate family moved. Initially, we moved to Houston to continue working with our family business in Mexico City. One week after we moved to Houston in December 1993, there was a crisis in Mexico and the Peso compared to the US dollar devaluated tremendously. Needless to say, it was a difficult time for most Mexican nationals, including my family.
Back when my parents were in their 20’s, they lived in Boston, MA for a few years. My dad was getting his PH.D. in Dentistry at Boston University while my mom took courses at the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts. She has always been creative and also has a history in Graphic Design. Fast forward to 1994 and my parents are in a new country, with limited English, and 3 young children. At that time, my mom decided to start Rustika Cafe and Bakery to keep her family going.
She started as a small wholesale bakery selling cheesecakes, cakes, and different products to different chains like Carrabbas, Macaroni Grill, Laundry’s, Hotels, Casinos, and plenty of other popular local businesses. She transitioned into retail and opened her first Rustika Cafe and Bakery location around 2002 in West University on Buffalo Speedway and Bissonnet (which is now the home to a new H-E-B). That location served Mexican-style sweet breads, Cheesecakes, Cakes, Empanadas, coffee, and a limited menu. Once Rustika moved down the road, the menu was extended vastly to include pastries, more cakes, cookies, pies, brownies, breakfast, lunch, and much more! We have now been in the same location for nearly 16 years.
There were multiple setbacks along the way, but my mom always found a way to persevere and get past any obstacle that was thrown at her. I grew up watching how hard my parents would work and how they always put their family first. We are a very close-knit family and I have always wanted to work with my family after seeing how much the worked to build this company.
I joined the company as soon as I was legal to work at 16. I would clock-in after High School and would stay to close the business. I started washing dishes and learned different aspects of the business so I can eventually move into different departments. I moved up positions and have worked in every aspect of the business throughout the years. I attended UH – Main Campus so that I can go to college while working at Rustika. While in college, we opened up our second Rustika Cafe and Bakery location in the Downtown Tunnels in 2018. At that point, we decided we would like to franchise the company. We are unique in so many different ways and would like more people across the nation to experience our quality and brand. Along with consultants and plenty of advise, we began selling Rustika Cafe and Bakery franchises.
Rustika Cafe and bakery is renowned as one of Houston’s best cafes and bakeries, which now has 4 locations and is shipping nationwide via Goldbelly. We are currently expanding across Texas, Florida, and the Midwestern with more locations nationwide coming soon!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not. I touched on this subject while sharing our story one the previous page. My family is of Jewish- European descent from Poland, Austria, Russia, and France, Luckily, my Great Grandparents were able to escape a day before their towns were taken over by Nazi Germany. They attempted to make it the USA, but Ellis Island was no longer accepting immigrants, so they were sent down to Mexico, That is when my family settled down in Mexico City. Fast forward to 1994, my parents moved to Houston from Mexico City with limited English, with 3 small children, and in the middle of a devaluation crisis. Out of necessity, my mom started a business with the skills and knowledge she gained while living in Boston in her 20’s. Most recipes she uses are multi-generational recipes passed down within my family.
It was difficult getting the bakery started. My mom would go door-to-door selling her products, mainly cheesecakes and cakes. There were plenty of barriers and it took years of hard work and dedication but she was able to land a few large accounts with Laundry’s, Carrabbas, Macaroni Grill, Hotel chains, and Casino chains. She was working day and night, but this kept our family going.
When 9/11 occurred in 2001, it was a hard day for all Americans and people around the world. It was a grim time and people were afraid. Airlines, hotels, casinos, and the travel industry was completely shut down at this time. Almost all of our business came from these industries, and we felt it hard on the business side. My mom had to think quickly and shifted in to opening a retail shop shortly after. She began to open different revenue streams for Rustika so that would not occur at the same level again. It was a great few years but then H-E-B purchased the strip center, so the landlord was kicking everyone out of their space. Our lease was the first to end, so my mom had to think quickly again and find a new location. After a few months, she was able to locate a spot down the road that used to be a bakery, so she did not have to build out a new location, which can be very expensive. This has been the home of the Original Rustika Cafe and Bakery for about the past 16 years.
Multiple hurricanes, floods, and so many unexpected obstacles have been thrown our way over the years, but we have always found a way to persevere. I have witnessed my mom overcome so many obstacles over the years, and it has shown me that nothing is impossible as long as you have the drive to succeed. For the past couple of years, we have been dealing with COVID. Now we are dealing with a staffing shortage, inflation, and supply-chain delays. The challenges never end, but it is all in the way you approach them.
We’ve been impressed with Rustika Cafe and Bakery, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Rustika Cafe and Bakery was founded by master chef Francis Reznick in 1994. Today, it’s renowned as one of Houston’s best cafes, cake shops, and bakeries, with Francis’ children (and even her grandkids) lending a hand at the family-owned shop, which now has multiple locations and is shipping nationwide.
Our full breakfast and lunch menu is served all day along with our delicious pastries, cookies, cakes, coffees, and more! Serving up favorite Jewish-Mexican fusion dishes like Chilaquiles, Migas, Empanadas, and Matzoh Ball soup along with the traditional Omelettes, Sandwiches, Salads, Soups!
All of our products are all natural, preservative-free, and made in-house. The breakfast and lunch items are prepared daily, fresh from scratch, and cooked-to-order. The soups are naturally Gluten-Free with plenty of options for everyone.
The empanadas are some of our most popular items. They are made with our special yogurt-based dough, baked and never fried, with 11 different filling options. Our icings, cakes, cookies, and desserts are all made with real butter and never any shortening. We only use the highest quality ingredients and never compromise the quality for price.
You can visit us for a cup of coffee and free wifi, or with a group of friends for a fun time. You can visit us to host a quaint meeting in our dining room, or just for a quick and delicious meal. Our talented artists create beautiful wedding cakes, baby shower cakes, and cakes for any size event. Our dedicated chefs can cater any sized events from office events to weddings and corporate catering.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
The founder, Francis Reznick, is from Mexico from Jewish European descent. She still makes everything the old fashioned way from scratch “like grandma cooks and bakes”. All the recipes from the icings and fillings, to the breads and pastries, are made each day from her recipes passed down from generations.
At Rustika, their vision is simple: create fresh food along with decadent and beautiful desserts while never compromising on flavor or quality ingredients. Serving up favorite Jewish-Mexican fusion dishes like Chilaquiles, Migas, and Matzoh Ball soup along with the traditional Omelettes, Sandwiches, and Salads, which are available all day.
Whether you opt for breakfast, lunch, a gourmet cookie, pie, an irresistible white chocolate raspberry cake, or even fresh-baked empanadas, it will be made from scratch using only the best available all natural, preservative-free ingredients.
Contact Info:
- Email: rustikacafe@gmail.com
- Website: www.rustikacafe.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rustikacafe
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RustikaCafe
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/rustikacafe
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi8BidU7hVR0m_rcuwf3Y6w
- Other: https://pinterest.com/rustikacafe
