What to Know
- To celebrate 20 years, the Philly Pretzel Factory is giving away a free pretzel on Aug. 20, 2018.
- College roommates Dan DiZio and Len Lehman opened the first Soft Pretzel Factory in Philadelphia's Mayfair neighborhood in 1998.
Feeling hungry for a Philly favorite?
To celebrate 20 years in business, Philly Pretzel Factory locations around the Philadelphia region will be giving away free pretzels.
Pretzel fans can go to any participating pretzel store to get a free twisted treat Monday.
The Pretzel Factory didn’t create the soft pretzel but did help bring it to the masses.
CEO and Founder Dan DiZio, a Bensalem, Bucks County, native started selling pretzels along Roosevelt Boulevard in Northeast Philadelphia when he was just 11 years old. He would go on to found Philly Pretzel Factory along with his college roommate, Len Lehman, in 1998. The original location was in Philadelphia’s Mayfair neighborhood.
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By 2004, DiZio began franchising the Philly Pretzel Factory brand across the Philadelphia region. There are now locations in 12 states.
DiZio says braiding pretzels is something you just “feel.”