Yes, the peanut roaster with the giant Mr. Peanut astride it is moving to The Peanut Shoppe’s new location at 121 South Main.
“It’s a four-minute walk from the shop to the south end of the West side of Main Street,” says owner Rida AbuZaineh. “It used to be the Center for Southern Folklore. It’s next door to Maggie Moo’s ice cream. It’s in Pembroke Place.”
And, he says, “I’m excited, but I’m running out of time.”
His last day at the old location at 24 South Main will be December 31st. He hopes to be in the new shop in January. “The sooner the better,” he says.
The Peanut Shoppe opened in 1948. AbuZaineh says he heard it originally opened on Madison, before moving to Main Street in 1951, but he’s not sure. The AbuZaineh and Lauck families became owners and partners of the establishment on January 8th, 1993.
AbuZaineh says they weren’t told the 24 South Main Street building was going to be sold until a few months ago. It will be turned into apartments and condos, he says.
AbuZaineh thinks the new location will be better. “It’s more congested there,” AbuZaineh says, adding there is a new hotel planned for across the street, the post office is next door, and there is a bank nearby. “There’s more foot traffic in that area.”
His new location is similar to his current location. “This one is a rectangular shape but so narrow,” he says. “The width is the difference. The [new store] width is three times the width of this narrow store. The Belz family who own the building are so kind and helpful to work with us and support us.”
Asked what will go to the new store, AbuZaineh says, “The roaster and the glass roaster. All has to move. I’ll add more counters and cabinet tops.”
And, he says, “I’ll have more space behind the counter to maneuver around. Over here it’s very tight. Especially at Christmas time. There’s only one counter to do all my gift-packaging.”
As for that roaster, AbuZaineh says, “The Peanut Shoppe is the roaster. The roaster is The Peanut Shoppe. Without it, The Peanut Shoppe is nothing. They think it was made in 1928. It’s a unique piece — a smaller version of the standard size. It’s operated by gas.”
The Mr. Peanut statue, known as “The Rider,” which sits on the roaster, is made of Fiberglass and papier mache, AbuZaineh says. “The estimation is it was made when they started to make them around 1947.”
AbuZaineh attached a sign years ago that says, “Hi, there. I’m Mr. Peanut. I was born in 1947 and my roaster was born in 1928. Please do not hurt us. We are fragile.”
So far, AbuZaineh hasn’t sold the enormous “Peanuts” sign on the front of the building. He hopes somebody will buy it so it won’t go for scrap.
Meanwhile, it’s business as usual for AbuZaineh, who was popping fresh corn for a customer as he talked. He’s had “lots of mental and physical support and financial support from the good people down there in Memphis. I’m not going to deny it. I’m so grateful to them. How to repay these people, I don’t know. I’ve been serving this community forever. This is another boost for me to continue with my service.”
