SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Wetzel’s Pretzels (Wetzel’s), the nation’s leader in snacking and delicious pretzels, just made Sacramento a lot sweeter. 

The opening of Wetzel’s* in DOCO (Downtown Commons), located at 414 K St., expands the brand’s presence in California, fitting with its growing number of locations in numerous popular destinations such as Disneyland, Universal City Walk, and Crypto.com Stadium. Visitors can relish in tasty snacks and sips at their nearby favorite, just steps away from renowned concepts like Macy’s, Golden 1 Center and Yard House, making pretzels a convenient and enjoyable experience for the community. 

“I wanted to take the brand to another high-profile area, and DOCO was an obvious choice,” said Ben Elias, who owns and operates Wetzel’s in Downtown Sacramento. “My personal love for soft pretzels motivated me to introduce these delectable snacks to arena visitors and downtown-goers, with the goal of propelling Wetzel’s to new heights. I’m excited to witness the enthusiastic response from my local community.”

Elias, a seasoned restaurateur with a professional history in educational administration and leadership, partnered with Wetzel’s because of its ease of operations and his genuine love for the brand’s fresh-baked pretzels. As the CEO of California Restaurant Group, Inc. and proprietor of a breakfast and lunch establishment in Livermore, California, Elias will embark on the expansion journey alongside his son, with whom he has cherished memories of enjoying Wetzel’s Pretzels. Following the recent openings of two additional bakeries within Macy’s Union Square in San Francisco, Elias continues to extend Wetzel’s reach as a beloved California favorite.

“We are confident we will reach more people throughout California by extending our brand into high-profile locations like DOCO,” said Jon Fischer, Chief Development Officer at Wetzel’s. “Ben’s passion for the brand is a fantastic example of the dedicated, high-quality operators we’re looking for. We are eager to support him along his journey.”

Wetzel’s passion for ‘bringing pretzels to the people’ extends beyond traditional mall settings, encompassing airports, stadiums, food trucks, convenience stores, and major retailers like Walmart and Macy’s, opening various revenue streams for franchisees. Known for its innovative take on soft pretzels, Wetzel’s menu blends time-tested classics with fresh offerings. Guests at the Downtown Sacramento location can indulge in iconic favorites, like the Wetzel’s Original Pretzel and refreshing lemonade, or satisfy their sweet tooth cravings with perfectly baked Cin-A-Bitz.

Radiating its signature “Wetz” Coast vibe, Wetzel’s was founded in Pasadena more than 25 years ago and has cultivated a strong following in the communities it serves. The brand inspires a fanatic following with its playful persona, “gram-worthy” snacks, and the moments of pure pretzel bliss it produces among friends, family and colleagues.

For additional information about Wetzel’s franchising opportunities, visit wetzelsfranchising.com. 

*Member of the DOCO Merchants’ Association

About Wetzel’s Pretzels 
Providing a fun, fresh take on soft pretzels, Wetzel’s Pretzels was founded in 1994 by Bill Phelps and Rick Wetzel in Pasadena, California. Drawing fans to its mouth-watering, portable snacks that are hand-rolled, baked fresh and served hot from the oven, word quickly spread about the delicious West Coast brand. Today, Wetzel’s Pretzels has grown to almost 400 bakeries and continues to cultivate fanatics around the world with its SoCal vibes and “gram-worthy” snacks. Its cult-like following includes famous fans like Ben Affleck, Billie Eilish, Jimmy Kimmel, Kim Kardashian, and Meghan Trainor. As the nation’s leading pretzel chain, the franchise has received numerous accolades, most recently being named to Franchise Business Review’s 2023 Top Food Franchises and Entrepreneur’s Top 50 Franchise Companies Doing the Most to Champion Diversity lists. Wetzel’s recently opened a wildly popular new streetside concept, Twisted by Wetzel’s, which provides a twist on the iconic brand with an innovative menu and engaging store design.

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