Timing and opportunity aligned for the newest owners of a Pretzel Pretzel shop in Jefferson County.
Valerie and Paul Meyer opened the franchise’s latest location on May 7 at 1203 Water Tower Place in Arnold.
“We lucked into this area,” said Valerie, 62, of Festus. “We had wanted to start a business a couple of years ago, but we never found the right franchise. I am a pretzel lover. When I saw (franchise co-founder Anthony Simmons) advertise they were doing franchises, I jumped on it.”
Valerie said she and her husband wanted to open their own business so Paul, 63, could retire from his job at United Engineering Co. in Pevely.
Valerie, a surgical floor nurse at Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City, said they were fortunate to secure the Arnold location.
“Someone else was originally going to open (a Pretzel Pretzel in the Arnold location), and it didn’t work out. Anthony offered it to us,” Valerie said. “It works out well with us living in Festus to have Arnold. We are very happy, and I think we will do well here.”
Valerie said Paul and the couple’s daughter, Amber Meyer, 33, of De Soto, will manage the Arnold location.
The Meyers also will open a location in south St. Louis at 6045 Chippewa St., and their son, Josh Meyer, 36, and his wife, Brittany Meyer, 30, will manage it.
“We did two locations because we have two kids,” Valerie said. “They will each have one to manage.”
Valerie said the St. Louis location is expected to be open in about two months.
The Arnold location is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays.
Valerie said she plans to hire up to four full-time employees and will likely hire part-time employees as well.
The shop will serve the traditional menu offered by Pretzel Pretzel, which includes pretzel nuggets, sugar pretzels, garlic parmesan pretzels, pretzel hot dogs, pretzel brats, mini pretzel hot dogs and a pretzel pepperoni pizza melt.
Valerie said the pepperoni melts, mini dogs and nuggets have been the most popular items since the location opened.
“I think everybody loves the nuggets,” she said.
The Arnold location only offers carryout, and like other Pretzel Pretzel locations, customized pretzel creations may be made to celebrate special events.
“We can make a party tray for anything you want to celebrate,” Valerie said. “We can make hearts for Valentine’s Day, a four-leaf clover for St. Patrick’s Day, a football for the Super Bowl. We make a lot of different designs in a large pretzel for whatever holiday or celebration the customer wants.”
Valerie, who said she will continue to work as a nurse, said Pretzel Pretzel has provided plenty of support for her and her husband as they start their first venture as business owners, and she believes her family will find success in Arnold and St. Louis.
“I think God was talking to me and telling me this is the one and to take the leap,” she said of opening a Pretzel Pretzel. “It is hard to take that first jump when you are doing something you are not familiar with. I took a leap of faith, and I don’t think we are going to regret it.”
Another Pretzel Pretzel location operates at 201 N. Truman Blvd. in Crystal City. It has different owners, Jamie and Rene Scurlock.
