If you visit Suffolk, you've got to go to the Planters Peanut Center! Shell yeah!! Home of…read morePlanters Peanuts and the Mr. Peanut iconic character, sporting his top hat, monocle & cane, be sure to grab a photo with his statue at the corner of Washington & Main in the historic downtown area. A couple blocks away you'll find this big, red, brick building and you'll know you've come to the place! Since 1967, the folks here have been roasting peanuts in their antique roaster for fans of these famous nuts to enjoy!
You'll be walking into a slice of history when you enter this old country peanut store, that doubles as a makeshift peanut museum!! You'll see antique advertising signs and posters of the brand, vintage machinery and equipment, toys and other peanut novelties, various figures of Mr. Peanut through the years he hasn't changed much), and glass shelves with cool nostalgic peanut memorabilia. It's not fancy or ostentatious, just chock full of nutty paraphernalia! We were nuts about the place! (Insert groan here!)
The sweet lady behind the counter knew her nuts! And we stocked up like a squirrel in fall! We bought cashews, almonds, several cans of regular peanuts, redskin Spanish peanuts, small travel peanut snack packs, a bag of shelled peanuts and a tub of amazing peanut brittle! We were traveling and it was warm outside, so we didn't get the chocolate covered nuts for fear of melting, but we will on our next trip in cooler weather!
You may not "peg" yourself as a peanut person, but one sample of these crunchy, fresh, healthy "nut"ritious legumes, and you'll be a convert! George Washington Carver would be proud to see this humble shop still thriving! Don't be a goober, "hull" yourself over to this peanut paradise and see for yourself! (Also, order online from their catalog!)