---
title: "Franchisees Deepen Connections to Wetzel's Pretzels"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/56fabfe5-6fcb-4d18-8f02-59e529439299
source: "Franchising.com"
original_url: https://www.franchising.com/articles/20260331_franchisees_deepen_connections_to_wetzels_pretzels.html
author: "M. Scott Morris"
category: "Snacks & dessert"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Snacks & dessert"
published: 2026-03-31T07:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T16:29:21.752Z
image: https://imgs.franchising.com/art/articles/10332_plate.jpg
---

# Franchisees Deepen Connections to Wetzel's Pretzels

**TL;DR:** Harout Abgaryan is opening his fifth Wetzel's Pretzels location at Gilroy Premium Outlets, alongside his father Varuzh Abgaryan. The father-and-son team plans to expand Wetzel's Pretzels beyond California, using high-traffic retail environments to drive growth.

*By M. Scott Morris, originally published in Franchising.com on 2026-03-31. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/articles/20260331_franchisees_deepen_connections_to_wetzels_pretzels.html).*

## Story

Harout Abgaryan is continuing to build his Wetzel's Pretzels portfolio, opening his fifth location at Gilroy Premium Outlets alongside his father, longtime operator Varuzh Abgaryan. The new outlet marks Harout Abgaryan's first mall-based bakery and builds on a growing footprint that includes locations at Stanford University and inside the school's football stadium. "Opening my fifth location and first mall bakery at Gilroy Premium Outlets is a pivotal moment for my career, especially having my father alongside as he continues his own expansion with the brand," said Harout Abgaryan.

"I'm looking forward to experiencing the liveliness of the outlet mall and offering residents, visitors, and staff our freshly baked pretzels. I'm proud to represent the next generation of franchise owners who are passionate about both the product and the guest experience." Harout Abgaryan got his start with the brand in high school, working in family-operated stores before stepping into ownership in 2024.

Varuzh Abgaryan, who has nearly two decades with Wetzel's, operates 14 locations of his own across California and continues to grow with the concept. Together, the father-and-son team plans to expand beyond California, using high-traffic retail environments like Gilroy Premium Outlets to drive continued growth.

## Entities

- Franchising.com (publication)
- unit expansion (topic)
- QSR (sector)
- family business (topic)
- M. Scott Morris (person)
- franchisee growth (topic)
- retail expansion (topic)
- Wetzel's Pretzels (company)
- Harout Abgaryan (person)
- Varuzh Abgaryan (person)
- Gilroy Premium Outlets (location)

---
Originally reported by M. Scott Morris, Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/articles/20260331_franchisees_deepen_connections_to_wetzels_pretzels.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/56fabfe5-6fcb-4d18-8f02-59e529439299).