Auntie Anne's pretzels founder Anne Beiler, 77, shares life lessons about aging and retirement
Anne Beiler founded Auntie Anne's in 1988. Courtesy of Anne Beiler This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Anne Beiler, 77, who lives in Texas. The following has been edited for length and clarity. I started Auntie Anne's because my husband and I weren't making any money. He'd become a counselor, providing free support to people in need of help. I wanted to support him, so in 1988, I opened a store at a farmer's market, selling pretzels and lemonade. One store become two, which later became twelve, and it continued to grow until we became an international franchise . It was a miracle that unfolded in front of us. In 2005, when I was 56 years old and had spent more than 15 years in the pretzel business, we sold Auntie Anne's. I never imagined starting a successful company and then selling it one day. Pivoting into public speaking has made me feel alive I grew up in the Amish community and always saw myself as a little Amish girl. Then I became ...
