Hot Sam Pretzels

{{Short description|US restaurant chain}}

{{Infobox company|

| name = Hot Sam Pretzels

| logo = Hot sam restaurant logo.png

| logo_size = 150

| type = Private

| fate = Acquired by Mrs. Fields from 1995 to 2005, merged to its brands

| successor = Pretzel Time

| foundation = {{start date and age|1966}}

| defunct = {{end date and age|2005}}

| location = Southfield, Michigan, U.S.

| industry = Food

| services = Restaurants

| owner = Mrs. Fields

| parent =

| brands =

| products =

}}

Hot Sam Pretzels was an American restaurant chain selling soft pretzels.

Julius Young opened the first outlet at Livonia Mall in a Detroit suburb in Michigan.{{cite news| title=Soft Market : Hot Sam Pretzels Invade the West, Where Some Ask for Fudge Topping| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-06-30-fi-319-story.html| first=Herbert J.| last=Vida| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| date=30 June 1985| access-date=2013-07-12}}{{cite news| title=Entrepreneur was behind Jiffy Pop, Hot Sam's shops| last=Helms| first=Matt| date=April 2, 1996| newspaper=Detroit Free Press}}

In 1971, the owners sold the company to General Host, who then owned the Detroit-based retailer Frank's Nursery & Crafts. General Host sold it again in 1986.{{cite news| title=On Michigan's Industrial Front |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3eITAQAAMAAJ&q=%22detroit%22+%22hot+sam%22+%22pretzels%22| work=Michigan Manufacturer and Financial Record| volume=131-132| page=103| year=1973| publisher=Michigan Manufacturer Publishing Company| access-date=2013-07-12}}

Mrs. Fields acquired the chain in 1995. Mrs. Field's purchased Pretzel Time in 1996 and merged the two chains under the "Pretzel Time" brand. The last 10 locations were converted in 2005.{{cite news| title=The Restaurant and Foodservice Market Research Handbook| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=41MsAQAAMAAJ&q=%22hot+sam%22+%22pretzel%22| year=2005| publisher=Richard K. Miller & Assoc.| location=Norcross, GA| issn=1540-062X| access-date=2013-07-12}}