New pretzel bakery opens inside area Walmart

FLEMING ISLAND – Ben’s Soft Pretzels, the fastest growing pretzel franchise in the U.S., will celebrate the opening a new location in Clay County on Dec. 8.

The new location will open inside the Fleming Island Walmart at 1505 County Rd. 220 on Fleming Island. The grand opening celebration will take place from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. and will offer one free jumbo soft pretzel to each customer.

Passionate about serving the world’s best pretzel, the Amish-inspired pretzel franchise has been open since 2008. Hand-rolled, Ben’s Soft Pretzels are baked fresh in each bakery throughout the day and feature special imported German salt. The pretzels are nearly twice the size of other soft pretzels and have a fluffy, melt-in-your mouth taste.

In addition to Ben’s signature jumbo soft pretzel, the bakery also offers pretzel bites called Buggy Bites, Pretzel Stix, all-beef Pretzel Dogs and Meatball Pretzel Pockets. Customers can pair their fresh baked pretzels with eleven different dipping sauces including cheese, Amish sweet mustard, marinara and a variety of other options.

The Fleming Island location is owned and operated by entrepreneurial couple Andy and Angie Churney and their family. Andy was first introduced to Ben’s Soft Pretzels through his friend and co-founder of Ben’s Soft Pretzels, Ben Miller.

After operating Ben’s Soft Pretzels mobile bakeries at fairs and festivals in the summer, Andy decided to help Ben full-time in managing his locations. Realizing the great business opportunity in Ben’s Soft Pretzels, Andy decided to open his own bakery with his family in Florida. In a true family operation, all employees at Fleming Island’s Ben’s Soft Pretzels bakery are one of the Churney’s 11 children.

“It is a true blessing to be able to open a business as great as Ben’s Soft Pretzels with my family in Orange Park,” Andy said. “My family and I couldn’t be more excited to bring Ben’s delicious, quality pretzel products to the Jacksonville area.”

Nearly eight years ago, Ben’s Soft Pretzels was started in America’s heartland by three visionary entrepreneurs who were passionate about great tasting food. Scott Jones, Brian Krider, and Ben Miller co-founded Ben’s Soft Pretzels after Ben and his wife, 3rd generation Amish bakers, perfected the Amish/Dutch dough recipe that is used in all its locations. The first bakery opened in Concord Mall in Elkhart, Ind. and has since grown to 78 locations in eight states.