Nestled in the charming town of Lititz, Pennsylvania, stands a small stone building with a big claim to fame: America’s oldest commercial pretzel bakery.
Since 1861, the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery has been hand-twisting dough into the iconic knots that have become a symbol of both comfort and tradition. Step through the weathered wooden doors, and it feels as though time slows down.
The scent of fresh-baked pretzels fills the air, and the creak of the old floorboards reminds visitors they’re standing in history. Here, tradition isn’t just preserved—it’s baked into every golden-brown twist, one pretzel at a time.
A Recipe That Survived Five Generations
The story begins with a hungry traveler sharing a secret pretzel recipe with bread baker Julius Sturgis. That chance encounter in 1861 changed everything! Julius immediately fell in love with the distinctive taste and decided pretzels would be his future…