Franchisee Profile: Steve McDaniel & John Brumbaugh, Philly Pretzel Factory Franchsiees of Harrisburg, PA

Location: 530 N. Progress Ave
Harrisburg, PA 17110

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Something Interesting About Steve’s Story…
Steve is an interesting guy to be sure, and he’s done quite a bit in his lifetime. But now, Steve will fulfill a dream he’s been holding onto for over a decade—together with lifelong friend John Brumbaugh, Steve will open up his own pretzel shop—Philly Pretzel Factory, to be specific: the pretzels voted Best In Philly for several years running will now arrive in Harrisburg for the very first time, and Steven is very excited about being the one to bring them here!

What Steve Did Before Philly Pretzel Factory…
Steve McDaniel is the definition of a jack of all trades. In his lifetime, he has held the following positions: State Trooper, Radio DJ, Real Estate Mogul, Life Insurance Salesman, Prison Guard—and now? Pretzel Baker, and owner of Philly Pretzel Factory in Harrisburg, PA, along with his business partner and long-time friend, John Brumbaugh.

How Steve Found Out About Philly Pretzel Factory…
One day, Steve was on the job, overseeing a court case in West Chester, PA. During a break, he went to get some pretzels for a snack, and was hugely impressed with Philly Pretzel Factory’s simple yet delicious recipe. His first thought: “Wow! This place has some real potential!” Steve’s only experience in the restaurant industry at that point was a part-time job at a pizza shop in high school, but he knew right away that he’d stumbled upon an excellent business opportunity. He started researching the company about five years ago, visiting franchises across the state, eating and loving the product and appreciating the smoothness of the operation at every store he visited. So, he got together with his friend John Brumbaugh, with whom he’d talked about opening a business since college, and they decided to go for it!

Why Steve Decided to Become a Philly Pretzel Factory Franchisee…
Owning a Philly Pretzel Factory was Steve’s first foray into franchising. According to him, to be a franchisee you have to understand if you have the capacity for such a job, and the ability to take on your own business. You also have to believe strongly in the franchise model that’s already been created. Steve believes that Philly Pretzel Factory has developed a tremendous brand, and is excited about using the strong business model to develop a strong presence in Harrisburg. He appreciates the corporate support and the brand recognition that Philly Pretzel Factory has already obtained.