Warm and delicious soft pretzels are coming soon to Kinsley’s ShopRite in Brodheadsville.

Construction begins this week to turn the previous Shop from Home pickup area into Philly Pretzel Factory. It is located to the right of the pharmacy, when looking from the parking lot.

“This 95-square-foot area will have its own entrance from outside the grocery store and also an entrance from inside the store,” said Sam Lake, owner of the Brodheadsville and Stroudsburg locations of this franchise.

Lake was college roommates at East Stroudsburg University with two men, Dan DiZio and Len Lehman, who went on to start the Philly Pretzel Factory and open the first storefront at 7366 Frankford Ave., Philadelphia.

“Philly Pretzel Factory prides itself on being the go-to snack that everyone loves! All of our pretzels are made with the highest quality ingredients, hand-twisted and baked fresh every day. No matter where you are, a pretzel from Philly Pretzel Factory tastes like home,” according to the company website, www.phillypretzelfactory.com.

Construction is expected to take about two weeks, and the store’s anticipated opening date is March 15, Lake said.

“We have received a lot of positive feedback. I am so excited. Chris Kinsley Sr. and his family have been really nice and are waiting for us to get in there,” said Lake.

Kinsley Sr. is the store president, and he too is excited for the arrival of the soft pretzels.

The Brodheadsville location has faced delays caused by COVID-19, the winter weather and financial loans.

Word of the pretzels’ pending arrival spread around the West End, courtesy of flyers and Facebook.

“I love those pretzels. Every time I go to Fleetwood to visit, I go to the Philly Pretzel Factory on Route 222 in Temple,” Joyce Fusner posted. “I miss them up here, so yeah I can’t wait for it to open here.”

Melissa Louy shared that she used to get their commuter special when she took the train to work.

“I love Philly Pretzel Factory with all my heart,” she said.

Initially, hours of operation will be Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

“We will sell traditional Philly-style pretzels, bite-size pretzels, mini cheesesteak wrapped in pretzel, mini hot dogs wrapped in pretzel, various dips, party platters and bottled Pepsi products,” he said.

Lake will need to hire four or five new employees to work with a supervisor he is bringing down from the Stroudsburg store. Anyone interested in applying can do so online or stop by the store, located at the Stroud Commons, 1619 N. Ninth St., Stroudsburg.

“I love the traditional soft pretzel. There is nothing like it,” Lake said.

The two friends opened the Stroudsburg location with Lake in 2019. In March 2020, Lake took complete ownership of it. His goal is to eventually own and open his third store in Mount Pocono.

“That is my ambition. But I have to wait and see. None of this would have been possible without Dan and Lenny,” Lake said.