Home of the Stuffed Pretzel

Walking down the sidewalk on Main Street, Kutztown, an array of restaurants that offer different foods ranging from bagels to sushi sit awaiting customers to choose their restaurant. Different colored signs and lights jump out as passerby's walk the main strip that tell which store can provide them with the food they desire that day.

Dean Borrell, the owner and founder of Pretzel Revolution, started the business in 2010 after creating, what he considers, the perfect stuffed pretzels in his parents kitchen. Pretzel Revolution began as a stand at a local market before Dean transformed it into the business it is today. "When I first started the business, I would take some of my recipes to family gatherings and have them test them out. I figured my family would be the most honest about what they liked," Dean stated with a laugh, "They were brutal at first and then when I perfected the recipes, they couldn't get enough of them. They're more willing to try my new recipes now because I bribe them with their favorites." The early days of Pretzel Revolution started with Dean only using the favorites of his family and friends. "Everyone loves an Italian sandwich, so how much different is an Italian stuffed pretzel? My family liked them so I figured everyone else would" Dean exclaimed. To this day, Dean keeps his original pretzels on the menu while expanding his recipes.



Figure 1

Towards the end of Kutztown's main strip, a sign juts out above the pedestrians heads that contains a giant pretzel and states 'Pretzel Revolution' in bold letters that can grab the attention of any daydreamer passing through (figure 1). Once outside of the store front, anybody can view the inside of the restaurant through the large windows where customers can sit to eat their pretzels while also enjoying a nice sunny winter day in the warmth. Entering the restaurant the aroma of pretzels and butter immediately assault your senses while a wave of warmth from the ovens at work immediately surround anybody entering. Five slightly worn tables from years of use are scattered around the store where customers sit and devour the pretzels of their choice. Pictures and newspaper clippings of local news, accomplishments, and sports teams litter the beige covered walls giving the room a comfortable and homey feel that gives locals and students- who attend Kutztown University- a place to recognize the accomplishments of the area. Towards the center of the room sits a counter that separates the pretzel prep station from the customers waiting for their order to be taken. An old fashioned register as  well as a small display case sit waiting on top of the counter for patrons to choose the stuffed pretzel of their desire. Above the display case sits a carefully placed menu that waits to give a description and price of the various flavors of stuffed pretzels that range from a standard pretzel to stuffed apple cinnamon.

Ovens line the wall directly behind the display case making the creating process easy for the workers to transition the pretzels from the heat of the oven to the warmth of the display case.  An overflowing sink sits along the far wall where workers can easily access the dishes they need or the sink they use to dispose of the dirty dishes that line the workers prep tables. Two refrigerators line the opposite wall of the oven- one full of premade dough and ingredients for the different pretzels while the other contains a full refrigerator of drinks the customers can choose from ranging from lemonade to coke products. A prep table sits directly in the center of the station giving the customers a view of the workers stuffing the pretzels full of the delectable ingredients that go into the making of a masterpiece.

"When I first started the business, the locals didn't like the idea of having me there. I live two towns over and they were still hesitant about having me there," Dean says, "They're very protective of their town and don't like outsiders. But after a while they grew to like my food and myself." Dean spent years perfecting not only the recipes but also the layout and theme of Pretzel Revolution to create a business that locals and students alike came to cherish as part of the community.

Figure 2

After perfecting the store front, Dean decided to further expand the business. Pretzel Revolution now has two stands at two separate markets local to the Kutztown area. Dean went as far as purchasing a large trailer where he can sell and make pretzels out of during different festivals and events. The trailer, like the store front sign, is painted blue and says 'Pretzel Revolution' printed in big, bold, white letters on the side with a giant pretzel as well (Figure 2). At the start of this year, Dean signed a contract with Penn State that allows Dean and his workers to park his trailer next to the stadium and sell his merchandise during tailgating of every game for the next few seasons. "It's a great opportunity and I'm so glad we could get the contract," exclaims Dean while making wild hand motions to emphasize his point, "We only got the contract half way through this season but from the few games we've been to I can tell that the future seasons will be fun and profitable. It's going to be a great experience for myself and Pretzel Revolution getting our name and pretzels out there! Now that we have our name out there, I can't wait to see what happens in the future. I have a lot of plans to expand the restaurant and this is just the start of it."

Walking down the sidewalk on Main Street, Kutztown passerby's overlook the sign that juts out getting any daydreamers attention and giving Pretzel Revolution that recognition it needs. Sitting on the lower end of Kutztown's main strip sits the home of the stuffed pretzel and the heart and soul of Deans thoughts, creations and dreams.