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Thousands of Pretzels and 5 A.M. Starts: Inside Rio Grande’s Philly Pretzel Factory

Issue #807

September 12, 2026

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In This Cape May Local Scoop Issue…

 📆 Cape May Events

☀️ Cape May Local Weather 

 🥨Thousands of Pretzels and 5 A.M. Starts: Inside Rio Grande’s Philly Pretzel Factory

 🏃Old-School Speed Hits the Sand as The Race of Gentlemen Returns to Wildwood 

🎣 57th Annual Surf Fishing Competition Brings Anglers to North Wildwood Beaches

Cape May Local Scoop’s Events Are Sponsored By: Survivors of Cancer

👇 Here’s what’s going on in the Cape May Local Area👇

 September 12

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 Thousands of Pretzels and 5 A.M. Starts: Inside Rio Grande’s Philly Pretzel Factory

Long before customers walk through the doors, the smell of freshly baked pretzels can already be filling the Philly Pretzel Factory in Rio Grande.

For manager Caitlin Mulligan, some mornings begin as early as 5 a.m., giving her several hours to prepare orders before the store officially opens at 9 a.m.

Mulligan has worked at the Rio Grande location for three years and is part of a five-person full-time staff. On particularly busy days, the workload can include preparing and counting thousands of pretzels. One large order reached 2,700.

Despite the early-morning production schedule, customers who happen to arrive before opening occasionally get lucky. When the workload allows, Mulligan will sometimes accommodate someone looking to pick up a few pretzels before 9 a.m.

Caitlin, Trinity, Phil-E, Susan and ‘T.; Missing staff are Paige and Zach

The Rio Grande shop operates throughout the year, while the nearby Philly Pretzel Factory location in Sea Isle City operates seasonally.

With football season underway, party orders are becoming an increasingly important part of the business. The Rio Grande store offers trays in several sizes and styles, including options with meats, as well as a five-pretzels-for-$5 special.

Traditional full-size pretzels remain a staple, but customers have some newer choices as well.

Among them are cheesesteak poppers, bite-sized pretzel items filled with Angus steak and Cooper Sharp cheese. Roughly the size of miniature pretzel dogs, the poppers have quickly become one of the shop's popular newer offerings.

Seasonal flavors are also arriving for fall, including pumpkin and salted caramel dips.

The shop's business extends beyond customers stopping in for a few pretzels. Catering has become another part of the operation, with the store recently handling a number of wedding orders and providing deliveries for some celebrations.

Customers can also order through DoorDash, and the location expects Uber Eats to become another delivery option.

The Rio Grande franchise has also built a community connection through its work with FOX 29 personality Bob Kelly and Kelly's Kidz.

That partnership has included events at Seaport Pier and The Fairview, along with activities at the Rio Grande store. Some charitable promotions have encouraged customers to donate items such as pajamas in exchange for pretzels or other food.

For Mulligan and staff, the interaction with customers remains one of the best parts of managing the shop. Whether someone walks through the door in a good mood or having a difficult day, she enjoys the opportunity to make the experience a little better with friendly service and fresh food.

Her life outside the pretzel shop is busy as well. Mulligan is the mother of two children, Makayla and JT. Makayla recently entered seventh grade, while JT graduated from Cape May County Technical High School and is pursuing a career in heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

JT has already spent about a year and a half working in the HVAC field and is pursuing his HVAC license. He works with Insta Services and Insta Air, a Blackwood-based company serving residential and commercial customers, including clients in the Cape May County area. He also operates a boat-detailing business on the side.

As fall arrives and football season picks up, Mulligan and her staff are preparing for party trays, catering orders and seasonal treats.

And on the busiest days, that means the ovens could be running hours before Rio Grande wakes up.

Old-School Speed Hits the Sand as The Race of Gentlemen Returns to Wildwood

The roar of vintage engines will return to the Wildwoods this fall when The Race of Gentlemen brings its distinctive brand of old-school beach racing to the Jersey Shore from Thursday, Oct. 1 through Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026.

Presented by Stultz & Son Productions, The Race of Gentlemen, commonly known as T.R.O.G., celebrates the early days of American automobile and motorcycle racing. The event features vintage cars and motorcycles competing on the hard-packed sand near the water’s edge behind Morey’s Piers.

The racing showcases pre-1934 automobiles and pre-1947 motorcycles, recreating an era when racers built and modified machines in home garages before testing them on beaches and other open stretches of ground.

In addition to two days of beach racing, the four-day gathering will include swap meets, live entertainment, parties, food and beverage vendors, vintage and custom motorcycles, and other activities.

Festivities begin Thursday, Oct. 1, with a swap meet and T.R.O.G. kickoff activities at the Jersey Girl Kitchen & Bar parking lot, 3601 Atlantic Ave. Events are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The swap meet and music continue Friday, Oct. 2, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Jersey Girl. Friday evening brings the Night of the Troglodytes chopper party, presented with Dice Magazine, to The Lazy Bass at 5 Old North Wildwood Boulevard. The event runs from 6 to 11 p.m. and will feature custom motorcycles from multiple eras, food, drinks and live music by Low Spirits.

The main attraction begins Saturday, Oct. 3, when vintage automobiles and motorcycles take to the Wildwood beach. Gates are scheduled to open at 8 a.m., with racing expected to begin promptly because the schedule is heavily dependent on ocean tides. Live bands will perform throughout the day.

Following Saturday's racing, the official post-race beach party will take place at PigDog Beach Bar BQ at Morey’s Piers, 3501 Boardwalk. The celebration will feature performances by GOONS and Messer Chups, along with a DJ playing vinyl records and mini bonfires.

Racing resumes Sunday, Oct. 4, with gates again opening at 8 a.m. Competitors will face off in additional races, including bracket racing after the vintage machines have warmed up.

Full-weekend and single-day admission passes are available. Tickets can be exchanged for wristbands Thursday and Friday at the swap meet, allowing spectators to avoid the wristband line during the weekend. Children ages 6 through 16 require paid admission, while children 5 and younger are admitted free. Minors younger than 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, and proof of age may be requested.

Spectators should also be aware of restrictions inside the racing area. Coolers, backpacks, glass bottles and outside food and beverages are prohibited. Basic consumer cameras are permitted, while restrictions apply to detachable-lens cameras and accessories such as tripods, monopods, selfie sticks and GoPro mounts. Professional photographers may be subject to additional requirements. Strollers, binoculars and chairs that do not interfere with pedestrian traffic or other spectators' views are permitted.

Food and beverages will be available for purchase at the event. Cash is preferred, although credit cards will be accepted and additional card-processing charges may apply.

The racing area will be on the beach directly behind Morey’s Piers, with spectator entry through the Raging Waters ticketing area on Mariner’s Pier. Because beach racing is tied closely to tidal conditions, spectators are encouraged to arrive early and expect portions of the schedule to change as conditions require.

The four-day event combines motorsports, vintage American machinery and Wildwood's beach culture in a celebration designed to recreate the sights and sounds of racing's early years.

57th Annual Surf Fishing Competition Brings Anglers to North Wildwood Beaches

The 57th Annual North Wildwood Recreation Department Surf Fishing Competition is taking place September 11-13, 2026, bringing anglers to the North Wildwood shoreline for a three-day weekend of fishing and friendly competition. The tournament is part of a longstanding local tradition and arrives as the busy summer tourism season begins to wind down, offering participants an opportunity to enjoy September conditions along the beach.

Registration is being held at the Gazebo at 3rd and JFK Boulevard in North Wildwood, with a participation fee of $15. Tournament hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, followed by a shorter final session from 7 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Sunday.

Prizes will be awarded after the competition concludes Sunday, with adult and youth divisions providing opportunities for anglers of different ages to participate. The event also highlights the Wildwoods' year-round fishing opportunities, which include surf fishing, back-bay locations, docks, street ends and offshore excursions. Beaches near Hereford Inlet and throughout North Wildwood remain particularly popular with surf anglers.

For additional information about the tournament, participants can contact the North Wildwood Recreation Department at 609-522-2955 or visit NorthWildwood.com..

What is the name of the U.S. Navy facility established in Cape May during World War II that played a crucial role in protecting the East Coast from submarine threats?

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 Answer to the September 11th Trivia Question 

Cape May is renowned as one of the best locations in North America for observing which natural phenomenon, attracting enthusiasts from around the world?

A) Northern Lights
B) Whale Breeding Grounds
C) Autumn Bird Migration
D) Solar Eclipses

Answer: C) Autumn Bird Migration

Cape May serves as a major migratory route for hundreds of bird species each fall. The peninsula's unique geography funnels birds into the area, making it a premier destination for birdwatchers and ornithologists who come to observe and study a diverse array of migrating birds during the autumn months.

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