The path that brought Megan Manti to her new pretzel bakery in the Belair Beltway Plaza shopping center in Overlea has many twists.

The Philly Pretzel Factory opened Friday, Aug. 29, under Manti, a 26-year-old transplant from the Philadelphia area.

First, there's the twist that convinced her that her lifelong love of pretzels might mean a career.

"We even had this kind of soft pretzel at my grade school in Marlton (New Jersey), and I would always get them," she said.

But it took a stint as manager of a cousin's pretzel store, and the cousin's urging, before Manti saw owning her own franchise as an "awesome opportunity."

Then, there was a rocky, twisted path to secure a Small Business Administration loan to buy the franchise and equip the business.

"I was denied three times by the SBA before I finally got it. Preparing the paperwork took months," she said.

Another twist in Manti's past life has also had an impact on the new business.

Two and one-half years ago, former co-workers (Manti then worked for a financial firm) interested the young college grad in a trip to Guyana, a small, English-speaking country in South America.

It was a trip with a charitable purpose -- to spend two weeks at a Catholic orphanage in the town of Plaisance. St. John Bosco Orphanage is operated by the Sisters of Mercy.

The third-world environment, with most citizens living in houses patched together from scrap lumber and corrugated metal, had a strong impact on Manti, she said.

"The people are very sweet and love life, but you can sense there is a suppression of their spirits due to their poverty," she said.

The volunteers held a field day for the 30 boys in the orphanage, provided shirts for the teams, and watched as they threw themselves into their favorite sport, cricket.

Her experience convinced Manti that "This was a place where I'd love to make a difference."

She has decided to give a percentage of Philly Pretzel Factory profits to the orphanage. She will also sponsor a service trip to the orphanage for any employee who works for her a year, she said.

In hopes of building rapport with the Overlea neighborhood, the shop is giving every customer three free pretzels through 2008, she said.

"Or, for just walking into the store," Manti said.

Philly Pretzel Factory has a staff of 11, mostly teenagers; Manti's sister Mary Kilroy as manager; and a crew of local firemen as repeat customers.

A week before opening, Manti walked into the Fullerton Fire Station seeking a fire marshal's inspection of her store, as required.

"They told me they don't handle that sort of thing, but they insisted I sit down and eat with them," she said.

Firemen Dave Dryden, Kevin Gibney and Carl "Chico" Rausch all bought pretzels on her opening day.

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user comments (2)

user teamchildren says...

Posted 6:21 PM, 09.13.08

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user teamchildren says...

First of all i think Megan's last name is Monti not Manti...I have watched Megan work her little fanny off to get this business up and going and I and all of her firends are both proud and inspired by her efforts...She has a heart of gold and will be a huge contribution to your community..Next time you talk to her ask her about her future hubby...

Posted 6:24 PM, 09.13.08

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