Some Philadelphia traditions refuse to fade, and one of them starts baking before most of the city wakes up. Tucked into a quiet corner south of the busy blocks, a small bakery has been hand-twisting soft pretzels for around forty years, using little more than flour, water, and yeast.
People plan their morning around getting there early, because when the fresh batch sells out, it is gone for the day. There was even an eighteen-month stretch when the doors stayed shut after a fire, and longtime fans counted the days until the ovens fired back up.
What keeps drawing crowds at six in the morning, and why do folks drive in from other states just to fill a bag? Keep reading to meet a true Philly classic.
The Corner Where It All Happens
Down at 816 Washington Ave in Philadelphia, PA 19147, a modest storefront holds one of the city’s most beloved morning stops. The name on the door is Center City Pretzel Co., and it sits in the South Philadelphia stretch where rowhomes meet small businesses…