Our History

In 2004 we installed an additional pretzel baking line, which incorporates many of the processes our family has learned in the years since 1861 when Julius Sturgis (the first of five generations of pretzel bakers) began the commercial pretzel baking industry in the United States. We are continually testing and perfecting our recipes on the new equipment to be sure that the end result is equal to or surpasses our high standard of quality we consistently achieve with our famous stone hearth ovens. In the Reading, Pennsylvania area (known as the pretzel capital of the world), we have baked pretzels in seven different bakery locations.

A photo of the pretzel bakery our family baked in from 1953 to 1970 is shown above. Marriott "Tom" Sturgis (third generation pretzel baker) was born in Lititz, PA.  He was responsible for bringing the Sturgis pretzel baking family to Reading in the 1920's.

Bring the whole family for a step back in time...

Now Tom Sturgis Pretzels has returned to its roots in Lititz, Pennsylvania at the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery. Under new management, this historic bakery will offer visitors a glimpse of what it was like for Julius Sturgis to bake pretzels in the “old days”. With interactive demonstrations, historical and reproduction equipment and photographs, your visit is sure to be fun and informative. And don’t forget to stop by the shop for some crunchy pretzels to take back home.

219 East Main Street
Lititz, PA
(717) 626-4354