Your sneak peek at the first Auntie Anne’s Sydney store as the iconic pretzel chain prepares to launch in Australia
Pretzel-mania will soon arrive down under after eagle-eyed foodies spotted Auntie Anne’s stores being set up around Sydney – and now FEMAIL can exclusively share the first image of what the Aussie stores will look like.
For the uninitiated, Auntie Anne’s is a popular American pretzel chain that’s been around since 1988.
The takeaway brand is renowned for its vast range of pretzel-themed products, including its Classic Pretzels, Pretzel Nuggets and Original Pretzel Dog.
A Sydney shopper took to Reddit earlier this month sharing a picture of an Auntie Anne’s ‘Coming Soon’ poster that had been plastered across an underground shopfront in the QVB food court next to Town Hall station.
The accompanying message read: ‘Just walked past this sign in Sydney and nearly lost it. AUNTIE ANNE’S. I thought we were never getting one here??’
The salty and sweet snacks are famously paired with their accompanying pretzel dip range, which includes a Cheese Dip and Marinara Dip, as well as various varieties of in-house lemonade.
An excited Sydney-sider who shared a photo online explained that he’d previously tried the famous pretzels overseas and felt it was ‘a massive win’ that Aussies would now get to experience the delicious treat at home.
‘If you’ve ever had it overseas, you know how good it is. Warm, soft pretzels like proper buttery, salty perfection. The cinnamon sugar one is unreal too,’ he wrote.
FEMAIL can exclusively share this first look image revealing what the Auntie Anne’s Australia stores will look like
An eagle-eyed Sydney-sider jumped on Reddit to share this ‘Coming Soon’ poster for an Auntie Anne’s pretzel store, which they spotted outside a shopfront in the QVB food court
‘Used to be my airport guilty pleasure every time I travelled,’ he added.
Another person chimed in to add that they’d spotted a similar ‘Coming Soon’ sign outside a shopfront in Westfield Parramatta.
Their comment read: ‘They’re also opening a branch at Westfield Parra in the spot that used to be occupied by a tobacconist (next door to Breadtop) in the lower ground floor.’
Auntie Anne’s diehards were quick to respond to the Reddit thread and share their excitement about now being able to get the beloved pretzel snacks down under.
‘AHHHHH one of my constant cravings ever since I moved to Australia!!!’ read one comment.
Other fans also offered serving suggestions for first-timers.
‘Trust me on these combinations: regular salted pretzel with the cheap liquid cheese fast food places use for nachos. Sour cream & onion pretzel with marinara dip,’ read one comment.
‘[Y]ummm their cinnamon pretzels and house made lemonade combination was bomb,’ added another.
Auntie Anne’s has also started sharing tantalizing pictures of their signature pretzels to their newly created Australian social media accounts
Auntie Anne’s diehards have already weighed in on the items they hope to see on the Aussie menu, including the Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Nuggets (left), Original Pretzel Dog (centre) and their Original Lemonade (right)
FEMAIL reached out to an Auntie Anne spokesperson, who provided an exclusive ‘first look’ picture of their Aussie stores and officially confirmed that the first shop will open on Saturday July 26 in Westfield Paramatta.
Opening day is expected to draw huge crowds of pretzel fans, with the first 50 guests through the door also set to receive exclusive Auntie Anne’s merchandise in a limited-edition goodie bag.
Business partners Yu-Jin Lee and Johann Wong – who are behind the store’s Australia expansion – already have big plans for the pretzel brand down under.
‘We aim to launch the first 5 stores in the next 12 months with our goal being to make Auntie Anne’s a beloved brand nationally. There’s a huge appetite for the brand already – we’ve seen the buzz online and the excitement is real!’
Indeed, Auntie Anne’s newly established Australian social media channels have already been met with a flurry of excitement from fans.
In response to one of the brand’s teaser Instagram posts, one foodie responded: ‘Dreams do come true’.
Seasoned Auntie Anne’s customers have also speculated in the comments section about the items they hoped would be available on the Aussie menu.
Among the hotly requested food items were the brand’s Pretzel Dogs, Chocolate Dip and their signature Original Lemonade.
This graphic was the first teaser shared to the brand’s Australian Instagram account
The official statement confirmed some of the items that will be featured on the soon to be launched Australian menu.
Among them are the ‘signature pretzel varieties such as Original, Cinnamon Sugar, Sweet Almond, and Pepperoni Cheese’ as well as the ‘sweet and savoury Nugget bites’.
‘All Auntie Anne’s pretzels are mixed, hand rolled and baked on site to ensure the ultimate experience,’ the brand’s statement continued.
Auntie Anne’s was started in the late 80s by American woman Anne Beiler, who opened her first humble pretzel stand at a Pennsylvania farmer’s market.
After developing her signature freshly baked pretzel recipe, ‘word got out about the warm Twisted buttery dough gently sprinkled with granules of salt,’ according to a post about the brand’s history.
