about pretzel city
We are proud of our history
Pretzel City is more than just a group of products. It is also representative of our areas pride and craftsmanship . We will be selling products representative of our area, crafted in our area and historically true to our area.
Established 1784
reading pa is the original pretzel city
Reading Pa, Established in 1784, was known as the Pretzel Capital of the World. By 1948 its pretzel bakeries were producing one-third of all pretzels baked in the United States. The earliest bakery to open in Reading, was on Apple Street in the 1860’s, owned by Benjamin Lichtenhaler who was born in Lititz, Pennsylvania. Julius Sturgis, also from Lititz, is credited with opening the first commercial pretzel company in the United States in 1861 in Lititz; later moving the enterprise to Berks County in 1924. His plant produced the first hard pretzels. The original recipe belonged to the Moravians. Other pretzel companies followed as the demand for pretzels increased. The Reading Pretzel Machinery Company was founded in 1935, who produced machinery to automate pretzel production–since up to that point pretzel makers did everything by hand!
Upcoming events
Craft Pretzel & Beer Festival
West Reading Craft Pretzel & Beer Fest is the only Festival that features our area’s founding crafts, Pretzel & Beer! Join us for a day of Live Music, Homemade Pretzels & Beer, and fabulous shopping. We are happy to welcome Unique Pretzels once again as our Title Sponsor, Customers Bank as our Music Sponsor and Tom Sturgis as our Beer Glass Sponsor! The festival is free, but you can also enjoy a ticketed tasting of all our regions best locally made pretzels and beer. Check out the VIP package for reserved parking and an extra hour of tasting before the crowds arrive! (Limited Tickets available-noon start) Over 50 beers + even more varieties of pretzels will be featured this year. Come support our region’s bounty + celebrate National Pretzel Day (Sunday). All proceeds go to support West Reading’s Revitalization. General Admission ticket includes a (five) 5 oz. tasting glass, 3 hours of unlimited tastings and the best local pretzels.
Pretzel & Beer Tour
This self guided tour will be coming soon. Stay tuned for this salty sudsy tour of our areas 25 plus beer and pretzel manufacturers.