Penguin Pretzels goes from home kitchen to big expansion

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - Pretzel lovers across Florida know about Penguin Pretzels. Penguin makes twisted treats – both savory and sweet – and ships them all over the state.

Last year, the folks at Penguin Pretzels opened a café in New Port Richey and it was a hit from the beginning. It was a big step considering the business’ humble beginnings.

Suzy Agostino was a stay-at-home mom to four children. Her husband, Nick traveled for work. Praying for a change, Agostino found her passion: Soft pretzels.

She spent months perfecting her recipe. It was so good, Nick decided to take samples to Busch Gardens, Tampa’s Museum of Science and Industry, and Bay Area restaurants. The orders immediately poured in.  

Fast forward about seven years and Penguin Pretzels are enjoyed by thousands.

What immediately comes to mind is a large, twisted, buttery pretzel with huge chunks of salt, but they’ve taken soft pretzels to places you might not imagine.

There are giant stuffed pretzel sandwiches, filled with cheese, meat, and veggies. They also create custom-twisted shapes; like sharks and dolphins, which are served at aquariums around the Bay Area. There’s an ice cream-shaped pretzel with salty ‘sprinkles’ on top.

For Suzy and Nick, pretzels are a way of life.

“Pretzels are a warm feeling it’s not just about pretzels, it’s about the families and community,”

They have big plans to expand soon, so they can make even more pretzels.

The Penguin Pretzel Factory’s café is located at 8536 Old County Road 54 in New Port Richey. Visit https://penguinpretzels.com/ for more information.