Meet the Owner: Philly Pretzel Factory

There is no baked good more emblematic of the City of Brotherly Love than the Philly soft pretzel. It is different from the hard pretzels that line the grocery store shelves, the soft pretzels enjoyed with butter in Bavaria and the Auntie Anne's pretzels found in every mall in America. Whether you've enjoyed a Philly soft pretzel at a ball game, bought it off the street or from a bona fide pretzel shop, you can count on it being wonderfully doughy, slightly salty and perfect with just a slather of mustard. Local boy Gary Nolan always loved soft pretzels but didn't imagine that he would eventually co-own six Philly Pretzel factories,, as an adult. Read below to find out more.  

Name: Gary Nolan

Age: 32

Hometown: West Chester, PA

Home now: Bluebell, PA

Favorite Thing about the Community: It's a loyal and close-knit area. Everybody knows everybody else.

Do you do any community work? Of course. We sponsor three to four Little League teams a year. We work with sports teams, schools and businesses all the time.

Years in the Industry: Eight.

Earliest Cooking Memory: I don't really cook but I've always loved pretzels. 

First Kitchen Job: Owner of

What brought you to the industry? My best friend was a fraternity brother of Dan Dizio, the founder of Philly Pretzel Factory and that's how I go into the business. I co-own six stores now.

Biggest Kitchen Disaster: We've blown up quite a few of our pocket pretzels...

Favorite Thing to Cook: Steak. I like to grill.

Favorite Menu Item: The pretzel dog.

Healthiest Menu Item: Buffalo chicken pretzel (it only has 300 calories).

Favorite Local Restaurant: Capital Grille (the one in King of Prussia or downtown).

Favorite Restaurant in the World: Tomatoe's [sic] in Margate, NJ.

Guilty Pleasure (food or drink): Candy.

Favorite Food Shows: Throwdown with Bobby Flay. That's entertaining.

Last Meal on Earth: Beef tacos, Heineken and mint chocolate chip ice cream.