Where Are Those Pretzels From Ace Hardware Himym

Dorothy Henke knows people get wild for Dot'southward Homestyle Pretzels. Fans accept described themselves as "obsessed" with the crunchy pretzel twists, seasoned with a underground blend of butter, spices and other ingredients.

And while her popular pretzels have earned a fervent following, particularly in the the upper Midwest, many don't realize how the business got its apprehensive starting time in Arizona.

In 2009 and nearing retirement, Dorothy and her married man, Randy Henke, began spending their winters in Arizona. Dorothy, who grew up on a dairy farm in N Dakota, was looking forward to the next chapter of her life.

She didn't expect 1 request to change their plans, or to lead her and Randy to build their own snack company. It wasn't always easy, Dorothy recalls of the business concern'due south early days.

"I was determined because of experiences from consumers," she says. "Their reactions, from little kids to older people, everybody seemed to actually, really enjoy (the pretzels)."

How Dot's Pretzels began in Arizona

Dorothy and Randy settled in Goodyear for their winter home. Randy had a cousin who lived in the Valley, and his cousin'southward married woman worked in sales and advertising for magazines.

One winter, his cousin's married woman asked Dorothy if she could make seasoned pretzels as homemade Christmas gifts for clients. To ready the 30 to 40 bags, Dorothy purchased pretzel twists from Sam'due south Club, seasoned them in her kitchen in Goodyear and broiled them 2 trays at a time in her oven.

"Her phone went off the hook," Dorothy says. "All these customers called her back asking her where could they purchase this. It was merely done out of my kitchen. It was a conversation slice that merely fabricated the states call back, 'Is this something?'"

After registering her home kitchen as a commercial i, Dorothy began making more than pretzels, sticking home-printed labels on the bag.

The Henke family unit settled on the name "Dot" even though no one had ever called Dorothy that, considering "Dorothy'south Pretzels" sounded like something for former people, she said.

'I never dreamt of owning a business'

Dorothy began putting out samples and selling her pretzels side by side to the hot dog stand at flag football game games in Peoria. She has heard people describe the taste of the pretzels in different ways, and it surprises her what the gustatory modality buds bring out in different people.

After the positive feedback, she and her husband took the business concern back to North Dakota, where, in the beginning, she operated out of a grocery shop bakery. They sent sample boxes to gas stations in every North Dakota city with more than 1,000 people, Dorothy said.

"It took me awhile to get beyond the country of North Dakota," she says. "I took my time. I didn't want to go in the hole. I was very conservative."

She and Randy somewhen grew the business concern into what it is today. Later on opening her first pretzel constitute in her home state, she opened a second plant in Goodyear in 2015.

"Nosotros had fun," Dorothy says. "No style I thought in a million years that we'd be doing what we're doing today. I never dreamt of owning a business concern."

Where to detect Dot'southward Pretzels in metro Phoenix

Despite having a establish in Goodyear, Dot's Pretzels can be found simply in select stores in the Valley. Dorothy admitted Arizona has been a tougher market to pause into, but she'south pleased with how her business has grown.

"I like the contained people," she said. "The small town I grew upward in has influenced the way I've expanded. Some places want to become all in, and that'southward a big step. Ace (Hardware) would allow me grow at my pace."

Here are some places in metro Phoenix where yous can find a bag of Dot's Pretzels:

Ace Hardware: Virtually Ace Hardware stores probable sell them, but since stores are independently owned, it's best to call ahead and check. The Arizona Republic confirmed the post-obit Ace Hardware stores are selling Dot's Pretzels:

• Glendale: 7150 Northward. 51st Ave.
• Central Phoenix: 1940 West. Indian School Road
• Tempe: 1805 East. Baseline Route

Albertsons: 8035 Due north. 19th Ave. in Phoenix.

Fry's Food Stores: Nigh stores in Arizona carry Dot'southward Pretzels, including the downtown location, confirmed a Fry'southward spokesperson.

Total Wine & More: An employee at the SanTan Village location said all the Total Wine & More than stores in Arizona comport the snack.

Yous can besides purchase Dot's Pretzels online at dotspretzels.com and on Amazon.

Reach the reporter at Priscilla.Totiya@azcentral.com or 602-444-8092. Follow @priscillatotiya on Twitter and Instagram.

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