Soft Pretzels

As a kid growing up in Queens NY you used to be able to buy soft pretzels in candy stores.  The street vendors today sell an inferior product.  I've become a fan of the 'Philly Pretzel Factory' stores in PA, NJ, DE but there are none on Long Island.  This past week I became aware of a store in Oceanside NY that making a very good product.  They sell retail and wholesale as well and are called the Pretzel Spot (3212 Long Beach Rd).

Brings back memories. Years ago, I worked for Sears. There was a retail store attached to the Catalog Mail Order Plant on Roosevelt Blvd. There was a Soft Pretzel vendor right inside the parking lot entrance to the store. Back in the 60's-70's, he sold over $1 million dollars worth of pretzels a year! Never forgot that!

I do not fly into the philly airport as much as I use to when I worked for Aventis in King of Prussia.  The airport always had nice pretzels and I always bought one.  They were very good.
 
Paul E. Smith
knoxville,, TN

There used to be a place called Auntie Ann's Pretzels in the malls around here that were quite good-always freshly made in front of your eyes.Alas, because of my diabetes, eating one of those is a rare treat( they have way too many carbs for one sitting) and they seem to be disappearing.

Do any of you remember Hot Sams Pretzels?  They were big back in the 80's/early 90's.  They were bought by Mrs. Fields Company and the name was changed into Pretzelmaker/Pretzeltime.  Has anyone tasted Pretzelmaker/Pretzeltime Pretzels??  I wonder if it tastes the same as the old Hot Sams Pretzels.

annpeeples


There used to be a place called Auntie Ann's Pretzels in the malls around here that were quite good-always freshly made in front of your eyes.Alas, because of my diabetes, eating one of those is a rare treat( they have way too many carbs for one sitting) and they seem to be disappearing.

Auntie Anne's is alive and well! There's one in Mayfair Mall near you. Perhaps the franchise in your area might be in trouble but the chain is going strong. Here's their feel good story from their web site.
"Anne and Jonas Beiler didn’t set out to create pretzel perfection when they purchased a Pennsylvania farmer’s market stand in 1988. Instead, they hoped to provide free counseling services to families and couples in their community, and purchased the stand to provide the income needed for their vision. After some experimentation and a few mishaps, Anne and Jonas created a pretzel that customers quickly dubbed “better than the best you’ve ever tasted,” which is the same pretzel we all know and love today.
Twenty-two years later, customers are enjoying Auntie Anne’s Pretzel products, dipping sauces, and signature beverages in more than 1,100 locations in 44 states and more than 22 countries, with additional franchises for sale."
 
 

Has anyone tried Gus' Pretzels in South St Louis ?
Available in many supermarkets in the area....but a trip to the South STL is the most fun

Thanks, Foodbme.

webean


Has anyone tried Gus' Pretzels in South St Louis ?
Available in many supermarkets in the area....but a trip to the South STL is the most fun

Pretzel vendors' twisted turn  
http://www.kmov.com/commu...ed-Turn--94888969.html

Yes, Philly Pretzel factory is quite good. We have one in Westfield NJ, just a couple miles away. I usually wait until they have a coupon in a local paper, otherwise they are somewhat expensive, for pretzels.
 
However, my favorite Philly Pretzels are from a place called Mart Pretzels on Rt 130 in Cinnaminson NJ. I try to make a general food trip to South Jersey at least once a year, and it's always one of my stops. Seems like at one time they had a web site, but right now all I can find is some Yelp raves:
 
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-original-mart-soft-pretzel-bakery-cinnaminson
 
 

I love soft pretzels VERY MUCH :) (With alot of salt on them)
 
mmmmm

I love soft pretzels.  In my neck of the woods, we have Auntie Annes in some malls and one out at DIA.  When traveling, I make a special point to get a buttered with salt or sometimes buttered with garlic.  Add either mustard or the hot cheese dipping sauce.  The thing about Auntie Annes is they are diligent in the quality control so it always consistent.

I have to agree about Auntie Anns, very good and consistent in their pretzels-love salted with the cheese dip!

HotDogHead, good news.  Colorado is getting it's own Philly Pretzel Factory. Checking the web page they have 'Coming Soon' at Orchard Town Center 14697 Delaware Street in Westminster CO 80023
 
Sadly the 2 stores that were in New York State both closed, but they are adding another one to the Pittsburgh area (Monroeville).

The Pretzel Shop in Pittsburgh is amazing. Place has been there forever.

Foodbme
Brings back memories. Years ago, I worked for Sears. There was a retail store attached to the Catalog Mail Order Plant on Roosevelt Blvd. There was a Soft Pretzel vendor right inside the parking lot entrance to the store. Back in the 60's-70's, he sold over $1 million dollars worth of pretzels a year! Never forgot that!

 
I'm guessing I had some of those as my grandparents lived in that neighborhood (used to go to that Howard Johnson's a lot) when I was a kid and I spent a lot of time there.
My earliest soft pretzel memories are of a place called Barry's Pretzels in what used to be called the Bucks County Mall, a little outside of Northeast Philly.

Another pretzel store opens, this time in Brooklyn. http://www.bkpretzels.com/