Toni Reece: Hi there. This is Toni Reece, and welcome to the Get Inspired! Project for Berks County Living magazine. Today I have Jared Klinger with me. Welcome.
Jared Klinger: How we doing, Toni? It’s a pleasure to be here.
Toni: Thank you. I’m glad you’re here on this ridiculously warm day, right?
Jared: Oh, it’s nothing nice out there.
Toni: I know. So, Jared, take a moment and tell us a little bit about yourself.
Jared: Well, Northeast Reading my whole life. I’ll give you a little work background. I DJ’d full-time for 10 years before I got into my project now. I guess not a project, my shop. My shop up there on Pricetown Road.
Toni: And what is the shop?
Jared: It’s Pretzel Revolution and Creamery. Homemade stuffed pretzels and gourmet pretzels. Everything made on site. We also are the only carrier in Berks County of Penn State Creamery ice cream. If you know a little bit about that, it is ranked pretty high in the nation. I believe their ice cream shop is ranked seventh right now. That’s where we get our ice cream from.
Toni: Wow. We could certainly use some of that right at the moment.
Jared: Absolutely, yes. Don’t go outside. Just come right to my shop. Just bypass everything and come and grab some ice cream.
Toni: Okay, great. Are you ready to go into the Project?
Jared: I think so.
Toni: Okay. So Jared, what does inspiration mean to you?
Jared: I think inspiration is anything. It could be a person, a place, an idea that pops into your head. Something you saw on TV. Music. I’m big into music. I love music. I don’t know if any music influences what I’m doing up there at the shop, but again, people and places, that thing that gets you up and going, makes you ready for the day. Something that pops in your head and you say, “Let me give this a shot and see what’s going on.” Definitely just putting it into your daily grind. I think that’s pretty much what inspiration means to me.
Toni: Do you remember the last time you felt inspired?
Jared: Yes. Actually, I feel inspired pretty much at least a couple times a week. This being new to me with my shop, I never was in a restaurant business. I tended bar part-time at Sofrito’s. I did that. It was Tommy’s when I was there, too, so I tended there for about eight years, and then I had my DJ service through Magic DJ Entertainment. I did that full-time for 10 years. I’ve been in the people business forever. Not so much in the restaurant. A little bit at Sofrito’s. I mean, I was tending bar, so I delivered food and gave people drinks and cracked jokes and had fun and that kind of stuff with people, but as far as this goes, I’m finding out, and I was used to the five-hour wedding I would do, and I’d be at home drinking a beer in six hours. So now I’m putting in a lot of hours, but it’s mine, and it’s a beautiful thing.
Toni: Oh, good. So you’re inspired by the ownership that you’re taking away with this, correct?
Jared: I think so, yes. That would be correct.
Toni: So how do you, when you are inspired and you’re moved into action, how do you put that into practice here in Berks County?
Jared: Well, I try to keep the shop funky up there. It’s not just an ice cream shop. If you haven’t liked our page yet, please like our page on Facebook. I’m doing kids’ events all the time; 95 percent of them are free kids’ events as well. I’m also heavy in the community. I talked to a lot of young kids. We do free tours. I have Girl Scouts groups come up, Boy Scouts. I even did a rest home yesterday, so that was pretty cool. That was the first time we did that, but they came in and made their pretzels. They were loving life with the ice cream. What’s more Berks County than pretzels and ice cream? I’m just trying to keep it different. I don’t want people to be, “Oh, we can go here and get ice cream. Okay, cool.” I’m trying to bring something else to the table. With the free events, I have magicians up there. I had a fire breather up there. Minnie and Mickey Mouse. What else do I have going on? I do outside movies now. I have about a half-acre behind the shop. It’s a grassy area behind our property there, and I just did a movie night. I played Kung Fu Panda III last Friday on an inflatable screen courtesy of my DJ compadre, Dave Stevenson. He hooked me up.
Toni: How would you define funky? You said you want to keep your shop funky, and that’s how you put inspiration into practice. It sounds like you do a lot of community work.
Jared: I don’t want to be like the everyday shop. Like I said, you can go and get ice cream anywhere. Obviously, our product, we focus on quality up there, too, and we’re lucky enough to have the Penn State Creamery. That has its own niche. To tell you the truth, that’s the only reason we’re all involved, me and my partners, because we found out we can get that, and it’s a draw. People drive three hours for that ice cream. To me it’s insane, but it’s good for me, too, because now they can get it in their backyard.
Toni: When you do this work for the community, when you spoke of not only the product that you have and starting this business, but if you are putting these types of events together, are you inspired by putting event on for the community, or does it inspire you to see how people are experiencing?
Jared: A little bit of both. Obviously, I’m in the people business, so I like to see people smiling. I’ve always been a people person. I love just all walks of life too as well. Another inspiration is building it from the ground up. Again, when I told you I never did this before, that’s really cool to see it. That’s part of the hustle, too, is just getting it going, and again putting in a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, but it’s starting to pay off. Up there where I’m at, at 2903 Pricetown Road, Temple, 19560 on your GPS, I mean it’s pretty easy to find. It’s right off 12. The location I’m in has been about 10 other locations, too, so that’s been a challenge as well. It’s getting better every day, and that’s part of the challenge, too. I want to break this curse up there. It used to be a butcher shop. My buddy Ed Spade had it. Spade’s Sandwich Shop. I don’t know if you remember that, if you’re from this area.
Toni: Mm-hmm. I am.
Jared: He had that for 12 years. He’s a realtor now. He actually sold me my house. That’s part of the challenge, too. That’s part of what we’re trying to do up there. When I say keeping it funky, I’m all over the place.
Toni: That’s okay. You’re just really trying to bring life back to the area, and you’re inspired to do so.
Jared: Right.
Toni: And what I like is you’re giving back to the community.
Jared: It feels good, again. There’ a lot of people who are doing it. I guess we’ll get into that as far as the next question, too. Yeah, that just feels good, again.
Toni: Well, let’s go there. Who in Berks County inspires you?
Jared: I don’t know these individuals that well. I met Craig Poole. That’s pretty inspiring. Again, he’s facing a challenge with Reading. Everybody talks about Reading, how bad Reading is. I’ve been here my whole life. I love Reading. I’m always promoting Reading. I did a fundraiser for Reading High Athletics, all the way from kindergarten all the way up to twelfth, and projects like that as well. Adam Minggia, William Wilson, they do a lot of community stuff, too. They’re local boys. They’re a little younger than me, but those guys do a great job. I don’t know his last name, but he owns the Wyomissing Family Restaurant, Hamid.
Toni: Chaudhry.
Jared: Yes. Well, I only met him one time, but he was super cool. My mom introduced me to him, and he was just starting over in Wyomissing. I was telling him I’m in the ice cream business now, and he was like, “If you ever have any questions, if you need any help,” and it was genuine. People say that all the time, but those guys right there, they’re just trying to make a difference. And all the small business owners. It’s not easy, working 80 hours a week. You’re away from your family and everything else. Speaking of family, my 5-year-old daughter, Nora, her smile and laugh, that’s enough to get you through any day.
Toni: Absolutely. How cool is that?
Jared: And my beautiful wife. I can’t forget her. She puts up with me.
Toni: It’s interesting, your common theme for me is you’re doing it and as long as you stay inspired by it and you’re giving back to the community, and those are the people who inspire you in Berks County that you’re following. So, what would you like your legacy to be?
Jared: I think generally, “That Klinger guy was a good dude. He put a smile on people’s faces. He worked hard, and he tried to bring something different to the area.” Nothing major. I’m a simple guy. I like craft beer. I like to laugh. That’s about it. I like to have a good time, so that’s it, just that I put a smile on people’s faces. “He worked hard and gave back.”
Toni: I can only imagine that that is what happens on a daily basis. You brought a smile to my face today, and also to those that will listen to your interview. Thank you for showing up for the Get Inspired! Project.
Jared: Thank you so much. It was a lot of fun.
Toni: You’re welcome.
Toni Reece: Hi there. This is Toni Reece, and welcome to the Get Inspired! Project for Berks County Living magazine. Today I have Jared Klinger with me. Welcome.
Jared Klinger: How we doing, Toni? It’s a pleasure to be here.
Toni: Thank you. I’m glad you’re here on this ridiculously warm day, right?
Jared: Oh, it’s nothing nice out there.
Toni: I know. So, Jared, take a moment and tell us a little bit about yourself.
Jared: Well, Northeast Reading my whole life. I’ll give you a little work background. I DJ’d full-time for 10 years before I got into my project now. I guess not a project, my shop. My shop up there on Pricetown Road.
Toni: And what is the shop?
Jared: It’s Pretzel Revolution and Creamery. Homemade stuffed pretzels and gourmet pretzels. Everything made on site. We also are the only carrier in Berks County of Penn State Creamery ice cream. If you know a little bit about that, it is ranked pretty high in the nation. I believe their ice cream shop is ranked seventh right now. That’s where we get our ice cream from.
Toni: Wow. We could certainly use some of that right at the moment.
Jared: Absolutely, yes. Don’t go outside. Just come right to my shop. Just bypass everything and come and grab some ice cream.
Toni: Okay, great. Are you ready to go into the Project?
Jared: I think so.
Toni: Okay. So Jared, what does inspiration mean to you?
Jared: I think inspiration is anything. It could be a person, a place, an idea that pops into your head. Something you saw on TV. Music. I’m big into music. I love music. I don’t know if any music influences what I’m doing up there at the shop, but again, people and places, that thing that gets you up and going, makes you ready for the day. Something that pops in your head and you say, “Let me give this a shot and see what’s going on.” Definitely just putting it into your daily grind. I think that’s pretty much what inspiration means to me.
Toni: Do you remember the last time you felt inspired?
Jared: Yes. Actually, I feel inspired pretty much at least a couple times a week. This being new to me with my shop, I never was in a restaurant business. I tended bar part-time at Sofrito’s. I did that. It was Tommy’s when I was there, too, so I tended there for about eight years, and then I had my DJ service through Magic DJ Entertainment. I did that full-time for 10 years. I’ve been in the people business forever. Not so much in the restaurant. A little bit at Sofrito’s. I mean, I was tending bar, so I delivered food and gave people drinks and cracked jokes and had fun and that kind of stuff with people, but as far as this goes, I’m finding out, and I was used to the five-hour wedding I would do, and I’d be at home drinking a beer in six hours. So now I’m putting in a lot of hours, but it’s mine, and it’s a beautiful thing.
Toni: Oh, good. So you’re inspired by the ownership that you’re taking away with this, correct?
Jared: I think so, yes. That would be correct.
Toni: So how do you, when you are inspired and you’re moved into action, how do you put that into practice here in Berks County?
Jared: Well, I try to keep the shop funky up there. It’s not just an ice cream shop. If you haven’t liked our page yet, please like our page on Facebook. I’m doing kids’ events all the time; 95 percent of them are free kids’ events as well. I’m also heavy in the community. I talked to a lot of young kids. We do free tours. I have Girl Scouts groups come up, Boy Scouts. I even did a rest home yesterday, so that was pretty cool. That was the first time we did that, but they came in and made their pretzels. They were loving life with the ice cream. What’s more Berks County than pretzels and ice cream? I’m just trying to keep it different. I don’t want people to be, “Oh, we can go here and get ice cream. Okay, cool.” I’m trying to bring something else to the table. With the free events, I have magicians up there. I had a fire breather up there. Minnie and Mickey Mouse. What else do I have going on? I do outside movies now. I have about a half-acre behind the shop. It’s a grassy area behind our property there, and I just did a movie night. I played Kung Fu Panda III last Friday on an inflatable screen courtesy of my DJ compadre, Dave Stevenson. He hooked me up.
Toni: How would you define funky? You said you want to keep your shop funky, and that’s how you put inspiration into practice. It sounds like you do a lot of community work.
Jared: I don’t want to be like the everyday shop. Like I said, you can go and get ice cream anywhere. Obviously, our product, we focus on quality up there, too, and we’re lucky enough to have the Penn State Creamery. That has its own niche. To tell you the truth, that’s the only reason we’re all involved, me and my partners, because we found out we can get that, and it’s a draw. People drive three hours for that ice cream. To me it’s insane, but it’s good for me, too, because now they can get it in their backyard.
Toni: When you do this work for the community, when you spoke of not only the product that you have and starting this business, but if you are putting these types of events together, are you inspired by putting event on for the community, or does it inspire you to see how people are experiencing?
Jared: A little bit of both. Obviously, I’m in the people business, so I like to see people smiling. I’ve always been a people person. I love just all walks of life too as well. Another inspiration is building it from the ground up. Again, when I told you I never did this before, that’s really cool to see it. That’s part of the hustle, too, is just getting it going, and again putting in a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, but it’s starting to pay off. Up there where I’m at, at 2903 Pricetown Road, Temple, 19560 on your GPS, I mean it’s pretty easy to find. It’s right off 12. The location I’m in has been about 10 other locations, too, so that’s been a challenge as well. It’s getting better every day, and that’s part of the challenge, too. I want to break this curse up there. It used to be a butcher shop. My buddy Ed Spade had it. Spade’s Sandwich Shop. I don’t know if you remember that, if you’re from this area.
Toni: Mm-hmm. I am.
Jared: He had that for 12 years. He’s a realtor now. He actually sold me my house. That’s part of the challenge, too. That’s part of what we’re trying to do up there. When I say keeping it funky, I’m all over the place.
Toni: That’s okay. You’re just really trying to bring life back to the area, and you’re inspired to do so.
Jared: Right.
Toni: And what I like is you’re giving back to the community.
Jared: It feels good, again. There’ a lot of people who are doing it. I guess we’ll get into that as far as the next question, too. Yeah, that just feels good, again.
Toni: Well, let’s go there. Who in Berks County inspires you?
Jared: I don’t know these individuals that well. I met Craig Poole. That’s pretty inspiring. Again, he’s facing a challenge with Reading. Everybody talks about Reading, how bad Reading is. I’ve been here my whole life. I love Reading. I’m always promoting Reading. I did a fundraiser for Reading High Athletics, all the way from kindergarten all the way up to twelfth, and projects like that as well. Adam Minggia, William Wilson, they do a lot of community stuff, too. They’re local boys. They’re a little younger than me, but those guys do a great job. I don’t know his last name, but he owns the Wyomissing Family Restaurant, Hamid.
Toni: Chaudhry.
Jared: Yes. Well, I only met him one time, but he was super cool. My mom introduced me to him, and he was just starting over in Wyomissing. I was telling him I’m in the ice cream business now, and he was like, “If you ever have any questions, if you need any help,” and it was genuine. People say that all the time, but those guys right there, they’re just trying to make a difference. And all the small business owners. It’s not easy, working 80 hours a week. You’re away from your family and everything else. Speaking of family, my 5-year-old daughter, Nora, her smile and laugh, that’s enough to get you through any day.
Toni: Absolutely. How cool is that?
Jared: And my beautiful wife. I can’t forget her. She puts up with me.
Toni: It’s interesting, your common theme for me is you’re doing it and as long as you stay inspired by it and you’re giving back to the community, and those are the people who inspire you in Berks County that you’re following. So, what would you like your legacy to be?
Jared: I think generally, “That Klinger guy was a good dude. He put a smile on people’s faces. He worked hard, and he tried to bring something different to the area.” Nothing major. I’m a simple guy. I like craft beer. I like to laugh. That’s about it. I like to have a good time, so that’s it, just that I put a smile on people’s faces. “He worked hard and gave back.”
Toni: I can only imagine that that is what happens on a daily basis. You brought a smile to my face today, and also to those that will listen to your interview. Thank you for showing up for the Get Inspired! Project.
Jared: Thank you so much. It was a lot of fun.
Toni: You’re welcome.
