I never thought I could make a meal out of a pretzel… but
that was before I discovered JoJo’s Pretzels in Amish Indiana.
JoJo’s has been on the first floor of the Davis Mercantile
Building for as long as I can remember—it dates back to the old building, before
the big fire (but that’s a story for another day). The shop has expanded as its popularity has
expanded. But two things haven’t
changed—the Coca Cola décor and the pretzels.
These days they come in all kinds of flavors with all kinds of dipping
sauces, instead of just the original white and whole wheat with sauces of sweet
or sour mustard. There’s something for everyone—even hot dogs
or soup for anyone crazy enough not to like their pretzels.
I’ve read that owner Levi King named the place after his
wife JoAnne, and that on a busy day, they make over 1,000 pretzels. You can watch them being made—the workers cut
off a chunk of dough, twist it into a rope, and flip it around to make the
interconnected loops. Then it’s baked,
dipped in butter, and salted. Yum.
Right next door is the Kitchen Cupboard, one of the few
places in Shipshewana where you can get a good latte or cappuccino (or a frozen
ice-blended coffee drink). The two businesses
are connected, so it’s a great combination.
We often sit at one of the tables there to rest our feet, enjoy our
snacks, and plan out the rest of our day. (Note—Kitchen Cupboard goes heavy on the
flavorings in their lattes etc., and I like then less sweet, so I ask them to
go light on the syrups.)
Fresh-baked pretzels don’t travel or reheat well; therefore,
it’s best to eat them on the spot. So
pace yourself and make sure you leave room for a JoJo’s pretzel and a soda (I
like the Boylan brand diet cherry) or a coffee drink.
I should mention that there is another pretzel place further
down Route 5—Ben’s Pretzels—and the pretzels there are a bit different (more
bready) but still very good. So if you
find yourself south of downtown when the craving hits, or if JoJo’s has a line
going out the door, take a chance and try Ben’s Pretzels instead.