For 10 years, Beth Saunders has started her mornings on Fairfield Avenue making fresh pretzels. Alongside her husband, Brad, they have watched families grow up, gotten to know their regulars by name, and in many cases, learned their orders by heart.
This September, The Pretzel Place is celebrating a decade in Bellevue and 10 years of being much more than a place to grab lunch.
Beth and Brad Saunders opened The Pretzel Place in 2016, combining Beth’s business background as a University of Kentucky graduate with Brad’s experience as a trained chef. What they created has grown into a locally owned restaurant that welcomes regulars from around the corner and visitors from across the Tri-State area.
“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported The Pretzel Place over the past 10 years,” Beth and Brad Saunders said. “This celebration is our opportunity to thank the community and celebrate with the people who have supported us along the way.”
The pretzels are made fresh each morning using a secret recipe and quality ingredients. Brad makes the dough, and Beth twists each pretzel by hand before it is baked fresh for the day. Customers can choose from traditional pretzels or pretzel sandwiches with their choice of toppings.
Brad also puts his culinary background to work creating homemade soups, salads and specials that change weekly. Most recently, The Pretzel Place added a weekly homemade brownie special to the menu. Over the years, Beth and Brad have also collaborated with other local businesses, supplying breads and pretzels and teaming up to create specialty desserts.
The Pretzel Place’s connection to the community extends well beyond the restaurant. Beth and Brad have both volunteered with the city, with Brad helping lead and make community events happen, including Bellevue favorites like Fall Fest, the Farmers Market, Taylor Swift Avenue, Willy Wonka and Barbie Box.
“Congratulations to The Pretzel Place on celebrating its 10th anniversary! Your outstanding leadership in organizing food vendors for so many community events over the past decade has been tremendous and greatly appreciated,” said Bellevue Mayor Charlie Cleves.
The Pretzel Place has also become part of many of its customers’ biggest milestones, providing food for birthdays, graduations, weddings, showers and celebrations of life. Over the past decade, Beth and Brad have watched families grow, welcomed new generations of customers and become part of celebrations both big and small.
Their pretzels have traveled well beyond Bellevue, too. Customers have taken them across the country and even home to France.
The past 10 years have not come without challenges. When the COVID-19 pandemic changed how restaurants operated, carryout business took off at The Pretzel Place and ultimately became a positive turning point for the business.
To celebrate the milestone, The Pretzel Place will host “A Decade of Twists” on Wednesday, Sept. 16, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 411 Fairfield Ave. in Bellevue.
The celebration will include $3 throwback pricing on Butter Salt and Cinnamon Sugar pretzels, the Wheel of Treats featuring food, discounts and other prizes, and a chance to win a Mini Sandwich Tray.