---
title: "Franchisee Voices: Robert Gesek of Philly Pretzel Factory"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/5f739a66-6b2f-4dda-8c77-77ede9e5fd6f
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/franchisee-voices-robert-gesek-of-philly-pretzel-factory-9222
category: "Snacks & dessert"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Snacks & dessert"
published: 2017-01-10T21:16:01.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T02:35:38.120Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/118aa3a100616c6827745766d52ab7f34474.jpg
---

# Franchisee Voices: Robert Gesek of Philly Pretzel Factory

**TL;DR:** Philly Pretzel Factory franchisee Robert Gesek opened the first location in Massachusetts in Revere, bringing the East Coast treat to the local community. Gesek, a Revere native, discovered the brand while living in Philadelphia and decided to franchise after seeing an ad.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2017-01-10. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/franchisee-voices-robert-gesek-of-philly-pretzel-factory-9222).*

## Story

*Robert traveled all around the East Coast before returning to Revere, his hometown. Whether he was in Rhode Island or Boston, Robert always knew where his favorite pretzel was. Philly.*

*Robert opened Massachusetts’ first ever Philly Pretzel Factory location in Revere, where the local community is now able to get a taste of his favorite East Coast treat.*

I grew up in Revere and went to Johnson & Wales University in Providence R.I. After Graduating with my Culinary Arts, I headed to Lake Tahoe and then finally moved to Philly in the mid-80s.

I moved back to Boston for a few years in 1991 and ran a hotel and several restaurants for four years. After moving back to Pennsylvania in 1994, I ran a large convention center hotel for 16 years and then a few small restaurants until I finally moved back to Boston for good in 2014. I kept telling my wife we would make a killing with a Philly Pretzel Factory Franchise in Boston.

I ran across an ad for the PPF brand and we started the franchising process. Now we’re just looking for the best location on the North shore. I loved pretzels when I lived in Philadelphia; they are definitely the best in the country.

I really didn’t have a clue. I worked for one franchise and I knew some friends that were with different franchises, but I didn’t have an idea what it would be like to have one of my own. I knew that there were guidelines to follow. The brand perfected a process and showed you exactly why they are successful. When I hear about people straying away from the way they do things, I always think, “Why would you do that?” They perfected it for a reason. A franchise is great because they handle most of the leg work for you, freeing myself to concentrate on other areas of the business.

I will be very excited to support several different local organizations, whether it’s a little league baseball or basketball team, a walk for cancer or a drive to end homelessness in my State.

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- location opening (topic)
- massachusetts (location)
- Philly Pretzel Factory (company)
- franchisee interview (topic)
- franchise process (topic)
- Revere (location)

---
Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/franchisee-voices-robert-gesek-of-philly-pretzel-factory-9222). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/5f739a66-6b2f-4dda-8c77-77ede9e5fd6f).