Franchising

Wetzel's Pretzels opens Arizona-California state line bakery

Photo: File/provided.

June 25, 2021

Wetzel's Pretzels is luring motorists off the road on the Arizona-California border with its recently opened bakery in the Arizona Travel Plaza at Interstate 10 Frontage Road, a news release said.

Officially, the bakery is in Ehrenburg, Arizona — the state's 33rd store and first in the city.

"We've been searching for a great concept to fit in our travel plaza to provide people with a tasty and satisfying snack as they move between Los Angeles and Phoenix," Rod Rezvani, owner of Wetzel's Pretzels Arizona Travel Plaza, said in the release. "My team and I grabbed onto Wetzel's Pretzels with both hands and we couldn't be happier. There is a clear need for a brand that has the versatility of a grab-and-go concept and that can serve as a quick and satisfying meal replacement for a sit-down meal for travelers."

Like other bakeries, Rezvani's first location of the brand will hand-make the pretzels in store.

"Pretzels to the People! Yes! Every time we find a great fit to grow our Wetzel's family, we love to call out our rallying cry," Wetzel's Pretzels CEO Jennifer Schuler, said in the release. "But, it's not just a rallying call, it's a mindset. Rod is the perfect person to bring even more tasty treats to the people through the convenience of our grab-and-go concept that gives our customers a quick, safe meal option in Ehrenburg."

In 2020, Wetzel's opened 28 locations and is on track to add 30 by year's end. The investment range for a Wetzel's bakery is between $180,000 to $480,000, and qualified owners must have a minimum of $100,000 in liquid capital to be considered (or $50,000 for food trucks).

Wetzel's Pretzels has more than 300 bakeries globally.