Owner of Gus’ Pretzels remains hopeful after car crashes into building

ST. LOUIS – The owner of a popular St. Louis pretzel shop is picking up the pieces after a car slammed into the building over the weekend.

Gus Koebbe, owner of Gus’ Pretzels, said he’s thankful nobody was inside the shop Saturday when a car crashed into the establishment.

“I get a call from my neighbor that a vehicle has run into the building and I should check it out,” Koebbe said. “I came off of the highway here…and saw the destruction, and yeah, it was tough. Tough to see, tough to drive up to.”

A gas station across the street captured surveillance video showing the driver slamming into the front of the business around 5:45 p.m. The driver fled the scene but was later caught by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

A masonry team visited the location Sunday to determine if the building was sound. While waiting for an official inspection from the city, the shop posted on Facebook Monday afternoon that a portion of the building will be open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday.

“It’s gonna be a tough one to come back from, but we’re dedicated to the business, obviously. We’ve been doing it for 104 years,” Koebbe said.

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