In the early 1930s, W.S. Stuckey made history when he opened a roadside stand to sell pecans. These pecans were such a hit, along with his wife Ethel’s now-legendary pecan log rolls, that he managed to turn this roadside stand into a retail store franchise known as Stuckey’s.
These stores, located in Georgia and Florida, were set up along the highway for travelers heading south for winter. Over the next thirty years, Stuckey set up 350 stores across the United States, making his brand a household name.
In 1948, Stuckey began producing Pecan candy in a warehouse behind his Eastman store. This large-scale production helped propel the Stuckey’s chain from its local success into national awareness.
From the 1930s to the 1960s, Stuckey’s stores were known as a haven for travelers who relished the now-famous pecan candy as well as their cool drinks and hot snacks.
In the 1960s, Stuckey merged with PET Evaporated Milk. In 1985, Stuckey’s son Bill repurchased it from PET and reinvigorated the franchise, further cementing the name in the hearts of American travelers.
Throughout the 1990s, Bill would work tirelessly to bring Stuckey’s back to the glory that it enjoyed in his father’s heyday. He succeeded and opened 115 new stores rebranded “Stuckey’s Express.”
Bill’s daughter Stephanie took over as CEO of Stuckey’s. Her mission is to recreate her grandfather’s vision of providing highway travelers a fun and satisfying experience as they take a break from the road.
