COLUMBUS, Ohio — As the owners of the Peanut Shoppe prepared to close up Saturday and hand the business off to its new owners, they reminisced about their time working together at the East State Street location.
The Peanut Shoppe, a staple of downtown Columbus for almost 90 years, is getting ready to relocate to the corner of Broad and High streets later this month under new ownership.
The shop sells candy, chocolate-covered treats, and, of course, plenty of peanuts. Planters Peanuts opened the store in the heart of downtown Columbus in 1936 and Pat and Mike Stone have been the owners since 1996.
“When I started working [at the Peanut Shoppe], I was just looking for a little book money for college, well you get a little peanut oil in your blood and the first thing you know you own the place,” Mike laughed.
He’s been working at the business for 52 years and has seen a lot of change around him. One thing that has remained constant is the Peanut Shoppe.
“I am very proud of the store. I’m proud of the way we’ve managed to make it through,” Pat said. “This store has been around for almost 90 years. We’ve made it through world wars, we’ve made it through recessions, depressions, pandemics and this store is still going to thrive, so I’m very proud of that.”
She said the special thing about the business is the history.
“People come in every week and say, ‘My grandmother used to bring me here.’ ‘When I was in school, my parents would bring me downtown to shop for school clothes and if I behaved, my reward was going to the Peanut Shoppe.’ Now, those people are bringing in their own kids and their own grandkids and it’s something that touches back to good memories. It’s a store that kids love," Pat said.
She and her husband Mike announced last month that they sold the business to another couple.
Pat said that while it was a difficult decision, it was time to step back and let someone else run the store. She said the new owners are committed to keeping the shop open.
“I think our greatest fear was that when it was time for us to stop, there wouldn’t be somebody to continue the store and it would go away,” she said. “We’ve seen that with other peanut shops across the country.”
Pat said she’ll be helping out the new owners by working part-time.
“It’s going to be an honor to work for them. I’ve already created a spreadsheet for them that lists all the products that we carry and the vendors where they can get them,” she said.
Mike and Pat plan on holding popups until the end of the month to help get rid of some of their inventory.
“If you see that open sign flashing, come on in. We’d love to see you,” Pat said.
The two have worked six or seven days a week for a long time and say they are ready to have weekends.
Their first break? Celebrating the sale of the shop and their 50th wedding anniversary in Hawaii.
And for those wondering, the notable Mr. Peanut sign out front will stay with the store as it moves to its new location sometime around mid-September.
