The parking may stink and there’s still no one on the mound that can win 20 games, but the Nationals finally delivered what’s truly important when the new stadium opens — good food.
Maybe I’m a fat boy, but so are many of you. The days of a lukewarm hotdog in a soggy bun and a pretzels doubling as a shovel are past. The Nats understand food is important and if you’re paying outrageous prices, it should at least be edible.
Ben’s Chili Bowl and Gifford’s Ice Cream and Candy are Washington institutions coming to the ballpark. If you eat there, you’ll never go near other concession stands again. But, the Nats included one newly opened company that shows real heart by the organization.
Noah’s Pretzels will sell curly W shaped soft pretzels just like the Nats emblem. They’ll have salted and cinnamon flavors, but also a non-gluten-casein version. Anyone with food allergies and diet restrictions will make it a regular pit stop.
Noah’s Pretzels was just started less than a year ago to create awareness and raise funds for autism. Co-founder Dwayne Herndon’s seven-year-old son Noah is autistic, and non-wheat products reportedly help those with the disorder. The Gaithersburg store has become a gathering place for families to share in food and fellowship over autism that claims 1 in 150 American children. There’s even a “faces of autism wall” with pictures and writings about the kids.
“People want to talk to you about your children, the experiences with their son,” said Herndon, a father of six. “I had an adult get teary-eyed. It really comes to life.”
Co-founder Jonathan Reed approached the Nationals to sell in the new stadium. The chance to heighten autism awareness and curly W pretzels convinced the Nats to include Noah’s Pretzels near the third base line.
“It was the big prize,” Reed said. “This is huge for us because we’re going to get a message to 41,000 people a game that autism is out there.”
Herndon will be in front of his counter, passing out literature on autism. The increased business means increased donations to local autism groups. Every bite means money to the cause.
“We give to organizations that are helping educate and teaching skills to autistic individuals,” Herndon said. “We don’t preach what the problem and cure is. All we know is it exists and we’re making people aware of it.”
The company has already been approached by franchisers. There is talk of becoming the next Auntie Anne’s with stores in South Carolina, Georgia and Texas.
For now, local autism groups will benefit from Nats fans munching away. It’s enough to make me forgo kettle corn.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
