Made on Long Island: Knot of This World Pretzels in Levittown

Owner Ray Ruffino has been selling homemade hand-twisted soft pretzels since he was 5 years old.

News 12 Staff

Jun 13, 2023, 9:59 AM

Updated 562 days ago

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Who doesn't love a New York Style soft pretzel?
Knot Of This World pretzels has been in business for more than 70 years.
They sell all the popular concession stand foods, including their iconic large soft pretzels.
News 12's Jenn Seelig went behind the scenes at the Levittown business in this week's Made on Long Island. 
Owner Ray Ruffino has been selling homemade hand-twisted soft pretzels since he was 5 years old.
"My father said when I was five years old, he gave me some pretzels and he said go out and sell these and see what you can do, and I sold them," says Ruffino.
Ray learned the technique from his father and uncle -- the two gentlemen who started the pretzel business.
The duo built a concession stand and they've been selling pretzels at Tri-County Jewelry Exchange in Levittown since 1954.
"They were the first ones to bring them out to Nassau County, from what I understand, in the 50s. People were eating them cold, and they actually started heating them up," says Ruffino. 
Throughout the decades, they've been adding more snack foods to the menu.
They make all the sweet and savory snacks. From freshly squeezed lemonade to extra-large jalapeno cream cheese soft pretzels.
They also sell wholesale to local breweries and ship throughout the tri-state area.
Ruffino says he eventually wants to ship nationwide -- it's a dream he is hoping to accomplish soon.