Get your soft pretzels at this new spot on the Asbury Park boardwalk

ASBURY PARK - Looking to buy a soft pretzel on the boardwalk and hop back to your blanket on the beach this summer?

Philly Pretzel Factory is coming to the Asbury Park boardwalk. The store, about 800 square feet and located next to Stella Marina Bar & Restaurant, hopes to open in mid March, said Asbury Park resident Bonnie Nach, who along with Asbury Park resident Kathy Shearer owns the Philly Pretzel Factory franchise.

"We've loved these pretzels for years," Nach told What's Going There. "We always thought it would be great to have them on the boardwalk or in Asbury somewhere."

Previously, the space was home to a seasonal pop-up hot dog store, Dawgs on the Boardwalk.

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"We are excited about having them on board," said Jaime Kelley, senior general manager for Madison Marquette, which oversees the boardwalk. "They are two local women who live in the area and they are very familiar with the boardwalk."

Nach and Shearer had expressed an interest in opening a store on the boardwalk for a little while, Kelley said. "The timing was right."

Founded in Philadelphia in 1998, Philly Pretzel Factory, known for its hand twisted and baked fresh pretzels, has grown to more than 145 stores. In Monmouth and Ocean counties, it has shops in Eatontown, Hazlet, Stafford Township, Howell, Toms River, Neptune (in Walmart) and on the boardwalk in Seaside Park.

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"The people at Philly Pretzel Factory are just so laid back that it's such a perfect addition to Asbury because just the vibe they have in their corporate office is … just so chill," Nach said.

Philly Pretzel Factory has plans that will fit into the Asbury Park scene. It includes staying open until at least 10 p.m. and later when there is a show at the Stone Pony's Summer Stage, as concertgoers might want a pretzel afterwards, Nach said.

"We're hoping to do some beach delivery and have beach boxes to go," Nach said. "It's an easy snack for the beach."

David P. Willis, an award-winning business writer, has covered business, retail, real estate and consumer news at the Asbury Park Press for 25 years. He writes APP.com's What's Going There column and can be reached at dwillis@gannettnj.com. Please sign up for his weekly newsletter and join his What's Going There page on Facebook for updates.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Philly Pretzel Factory coming to Asbury Park boardwalk