Maricopa Wetzel’s Pretzels location reaches number one in sales on opening day

By Staff Reports
Nov 18, 2024

Maricopa has a business that puts a new twist on treats.

Wetzel’s Pretzels built inside Walmart off of Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway officially opened Saturday after weeks of remodeling.

“It was crazy busy,” said District Manager Esmeralda Garcia. “Everybody was so excited, and we had a big line. It was pretty good.”

Garcia — who has worked for Wetzel’s Pretzels for 22 years and is a Rancho El Mirage resident — said the new bakery was No. 1 in sales for Arizona Wetzel’s locations that day.

She admitted the opening was a bit unexpected and sudden as the pretzel shop staff was waiting for approval from the health department.

“He came in the afternoon, so we didn’t have the chance to open on Friday,” Garcia said. “So, we had to wait until the next day, but that was OK because we had to prepare and clean everything.”

Wetzel’s Pretzels located inside Walmart at 41650 W Maricopa-Casa Grande Hwy. Photographed Nov. 18, 2024 by Bryan Mordt.

The Wetzel’s Pretzels bakery is independently owned and operated by Steve Leibsohn. Leibsohn is a former OBGYN who now owns and manages 35 Wetzel’s locations across Arizona. He was named Franchisee of the Year in 2022 by The International Franchise Association.

“He’s one of the best owners we have,” Garcia said.

Garcia will be training a manager and assistant manager at the new location for the next six weeks.

“I’m here to make sure they have great customer service and make the customers happy, so they keep coming back,” Garcia said.

InMaricopa broke news of the Pasadena, Calif. based company expanding to Maricopa in June after discovering plans for it to take over the 2,000-sqaure-foot restaurant space that used to be home to Dickey’s Barbecue Pit.

According to an tenant improvement permit obtained by InMaricopa in September Wetzels’ twisted things up with changes to the storefront valued at $200,000.

Garcia said the past couple of days the opening and closing times have been a bit sporadic because of the surprise opening. However, moving forward Garcia said that Monday through Saturday the location will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sunday it will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“We’re excited to be here,” Garcia said.