Michael Bushnell
Publisher

Once again, in tandem with our Remember This column that this week recalls McDonaldland Cookies, we spotlight the iconic American road trip necessity, complete with the requisite pecan log roll, Stuckey’s!

Stuckey’s was founded in 1937 by W.S. Sylvester Stuckey in Eastman, Ga. Stuckey borrowed $35 from his grandmother, borrowed a truck and began to travel the Georgia countryside, buying pecans from area farmers to sell at his stand, which also carried locally sourced honey and curios from around the region. Stuckey’s wife Ethel soon joined the team with her homemade candies, divinities, and of course, the legendary pecan log roll.

Business at the roadside stand soon took off and Stuckey constructed his first store that included a restaurant, a novelty and candy area, gas pumps – and last but certainly not least – the teal blue roof that would soon become a company trademark.

Following WWII, the company built a candy manufacturing operation to supply what would eventually be over 350 Stuckey’s locations nationwide, usually located along major highways.

In 1964, the PET Milk Company purchased the chain in order to add working capital for additional store growth. As with most buyouts, the intention was good but what panned out was a completely different scenario. PET focused more on its core brands and the Stuckey’s chain was left to languish in a time-warp of sorts. In 1977, the elder Stuckey passed away and the Stuckey’s brand was sold once again to Chicago-based Central Industries, which began to close Stuckey’s locations across the country. Sadly, it had become just another portfolio widget for an investment group that cared little for an aging brand that seemed to be on its last leg.

Enter former Georgia Congressman W.S. “Billy” Stuckey, the son of Stuckey’s founder, who in 1984, purchased the assets of the corporation and launched the Stuckey’s Express concept. The chain rebounded to over 160 franchise locations in 17 states. In 2019, Billy Stuckey’s daughter Stephanie took the helm after graduating from law school and serving a stint in Congress representing DeKalb County, Ga. In July of 2020, the company bought a Georgia-based pecan snack company and once again began in-house production of the Stuckey’s line of pecan snacks.

Stuckey’s currently has 65 franchised locations, a pecan and candy plant to create Stuckey’s brand products, a distribution center and a network of over 200 retailers that sell Stuckey’s brand pecan snacks and candies.

This chrome postcard published by Donna Brinkman of Lyndon, Kan., spotlights three Stuckey’s locations based in Kansas along the I-70 corridor, Paxico, Beverly and Grainfield. The Beverly Stuckey’s is believed to be demolished and the Grainfield Stuckeys has been converted to a trailer sales operation. The Stuckey’s in Paxico is the only location in Kansas today. Missouri boasts three Stuckey’s locations in Marshall, Rolla and Rockport.