A Story with a Twist: The Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery
The twisting tale of America’s first commercial pretzel bakery begins in a sturdy stone house built in 1784 by Peter Kreiter. Constructed with rocks dug from the very street it sits on and timbers from the surrounding forest, this Lititz landmark has weathered centuries. Kreiter’s home was no ordinary house—it featured musket windows in the cellar, heavy wooden doors hung with iron strap hinges, and plank pegged floors, all designed with frontier survival in mind. Today, that same building still stands, not as a stronghold, but as the birthplace of a crunchy American icon.
In 1861, 26-year-old Julius Sturgis purchased the stone house at 219 East Main Street and opened a small bakery specializing in bread. But everything changed thanks to a chance encounter—or maybe it was a bit of drowsy luck. You decide.
As the story goes, a hobo looking for work was lured into the shop by the irresistible scent of freshly baked loaves. Sturgis didn’t have a job to offer, but he did offer the man dinner. In return, the grateful traveler handed over a pretzel recipe. Curious and willing to experiment, Sturgis tried it out. Having never baked pretzels before, he was so pleased with the results that he added them to his regular offerings—and eventually dropped bread altogether to focus solely on pretzels.
Another tale credits the invention of the hard pretzel to an accidental innovation. In the early days of pretzel baking, an apprentice responsible for tending the oven fire fell asleep on the job. When he awoke, the fire had died down. In a panic, he overcompensated by stoking the flames to twice their normal strength and left the pretzels in twice as long. The result? Crisp, dry pretzels. The baker was furious—until he noticed the staff snacking on the crunchy mistakes. As the story goes, that apprentice may have been Julius himself. That year, he stopped baking bread and founded what is now recognized as the first commercial pretzel bakery in the United States.
Julius and many of his 14 children worked side-by-side twisting and baking pretzels in the stone addition built onto the back of the house. Over the decades, his descendants would carry the family’s salty legacy far beyond Lititz. In 1946, grandson Marriott “Tom” Sturgis launched a second pretzel bakery—Tom Sturgis Pretzels—in Reading, PA. Today, five generations later, the Sturgis family continues to produce pretzels using Julius’s original techniques.
Inside the bakery, visitors can try their hand at twisting a traditional pretzel, watch skilled bakers work with soft dough, and explore exhibits detailing the history of this beloved snack. And of course, no trip is complete without sampling a fresh, hand-twisted pretzel or stocking up on flavored varieties and chocolate-covered treats in the shop.
What started with an act of generosity or a twist of fate has grown into a national legacy, rooted right here in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country.
Did You Know?
Pretzels themselves were nothing new by the time Julius Sturgis opened his bakery. Soft pretzels had been enjoyed across Europe for centuries, brought to America by German immigrants—particularly the Pennsylvania Dutch—who carried the tradition with them. These early pretzels were typically large, doughy, and sold fresh, often by street vendors. What made Sturgis’s contribution revolutionary wasn’t the invention of the pretzel, but the transformation of it: from a handmade, perishable treat into a dry, shelf-stable snack perfect for mass production.
The classic pretzel shape isn’t just for looks. It’s said to represent arms crossed in prayer. Originating in southern Europe around 610 AD, pretzels—then called pretiola, or “little rewards”—were baked by monks and given to children who had learned their prayers.
Planning Your Visit
The Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery, located at 219 PA-772, Lititz, PA 17543, is open for tours and hands-on experiences throughout the year. If you visit, be sure to take time to appreciate both the history and the craftsmanship baked into every twist. Check hours online at juliussturgis.com before visiting.
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