Stops We Like: The Salt Box
When in [the greater] Philly area, get a soft pretzel. Better yet, when near Plumsteadville, PA, stop at The Salt Box and get one, six, or a dozen soft pretzels. Then stay a bit sitting either inside or outside while enjoying their pretzel-based treats. Though the location is on a busy road, there is a back entrance making it accessible to cyclists.
For those not from the Philadelphia region, a soft pretzel is identifiable by their shape and texture. Philly pretzels are shaped like paper clips and have a chewy, bread-like texture. Due to the lack of preservatives, they can only be consumed the day they are made. It is rare for Philly pretzel purchasers to walk away with a single pretzel. Often racks of six are stuffed into a paper bag to be enjoyed. Some like to smother mustard on their pretzel, while others dip theirs in cheese whiz. Either way, Philly soft pretzels are the perfect mid-ride snack.
The Salt Box has an open concept interior where customers can watch pretzels being made in real time.
Located in an old grocery stand, The Salt Box opened shop in 2020 looking to fill a void in the tiny town of Plumsteadville. The shop cranks out fresh soft pretzels daily as well as offering ice cream, drinks, and pretzel-based sandwiches. Its sprawling lot allows customers to make use of the two outdoor seating areas as well as the large grassy field out back. A recent development behind The Salt Box has installed a path into the back of the lot, creating safe passage for riders who choose to cut through several developments over using the main road out front.
Once off the bike, the simple options are seemingly designed for cyclists. Get a row of pretzels or a box of pretzel nuggets. If it’s been a long ride to The Salt Box, spring for one of the stuffed pretzels like spinach and feta or house roasted buffalo chicken among others. For the full Philly experience, order the cheesesteak-stuffed pretzel. If the sandwiches are too heavy, consider a pretzel wrapped hot dog for a quick hit of ride fuel. Get there early enough to enjoy a pretzel breakfast sandwich to start the ride.
As the summer cycling season starts sizzling, consider cooler options like their fresh-squeezed lemonade or ice cream. Their ice cream is homemade and the perfect complement to the salty hot offerings. Definitely ask them about their mobile ice cream shop featured on a stretched out golf cart. In years passed, The Salt Box adjusts their hours seasonally. Be on the lookout for happy hours on Fridays. The Salt Box features two taps and a small selection of wine. Sitting outside on a summer evening after work is hard to beat when they take care of the food, drinks, and atmosphere.
Offering porch seating as well as outdoor seating, The Salt Box offers numerous places to enjoy a pretzel or sandwich.
Some things to consider when riding to The Salt Box is definitely accessibility. There is a path from Lantern Ridge Estates to the back of The Salt Box. Look for the gap in the fence that leads to the back gravel parking lot. Be careful riding as the gravel gets deep. Using this route prevents riders from using Main Street/ 611. Also, as of this posting, there are no bike racks present. Leaning bikes against the side of the restaurant appears to be the only option.
We’ve always wanted to write about The Salt Box because of its quality food, and now we want to let local cyclists know that a safer way makes a mid-ride stop all the more possible. With economic options as well as a flavorful menu, The Salt Box is a great option for a mid-ride turnaround location or ride meetup. The outside seating is usually available and the peaceful setting allows for conversation. We’ve talked about how great the roads are for riding in Plumsteadville, now we have a place we can send riders for the perfect snack.
