Stuckey's
Encyclopedia
Stuckey's is a road
side convenience store
chain found on highway
s throughout the United States. Stores are concentrated in the Southeast
, Southwest, and Midwest, although operations have existed as far east as Connecticut
and as far west as Oregon
. Stuckey's Corporation, the company operating the chains, has its headquarters in Silver Spring
, unincorporated
Montgomery County, Maryland
.
. When founder W. S. Stuckey, Sr.
, had a successful pecan
harvest from his family's orchard he decided to offer a portion of the crop for sale in a lean-to
roadside shed. Many Florida-bound tourists traveling U.S. Route 23 stopped to purchase the pecans.
As the roadside business continued to expand, Stuckey's wife, Ethel, created a variety of homemade pecan candies to sell at the stand, including pecan log roll
s and pecan divinity. In 1937, the first physical Stuckey’s building was constructed. Much like the former roadside lean-to, the new business focused on selling these Southern candies to highway travelers.
This first Stuckey’s shop added a restaurant
, then a novelty
section, and then gas pumps. The final addition was a teal blue roof (which would later become the company's trademark). Up until the onset of World War II
, Stuckey’s continued to open stores in Georgia and Florida
. The number of stores declined somewhat during WWII due to the effects of wartime sugar rationing
.
After WWII ended, the Stuckey’s business once again began to grow and a number of new franchises were sold. A candy factory was constructed to supply an eventual 350-plus Stuckey's stores located throughout the continental United States. As the post-war baby boom
took off and families began to travel across the country by car more often, Stuckey's continued to grow financially as they were almost always constructed along large highways and usually were paired with Texaco
gas stations as well as restaurants and clean restrooms.
The company at its peak had over 350 locations, which dwindled to fewer than 75 after a decline in the late 1970s under ownership by Pet. It was repurchased by former Congressman W.S. Stuckey, Jr., in 1985. It currently has over 200 franchise
stores in 19 states.
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
side convenience store
Convenience store
A convenience store, corner store, corner shop, commonly called a bodega in Spanish-speaking areas of the United States, is a small store or shop in a built up area that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, alcoholic and soft drinks, and may also offer money order and...
chain found on highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
s throughout the United States. Stores are concentrated in the Southeast
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
, Southwest, and Midwest, although operations have existed as far east as Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and as far west as Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. Stuckey's Corporation, the company operating the chains, has its headquarters in Silver Spring
Silver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It had a population of 71,452 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth most populous place in Maryland, after Baltimore, Columbia, and Germantown.The urbanized, oldest, and...
, unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
.
Early days
Stuckey’s originated in the early 1930s in Eastman, GeorgiaEastman, Georgia
Eastman is a city in Dodge County, Georgia, United States. The population was 13,541 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Dodge County...
. When founder W. S. Stuckey, Sr.
W. S. Stuckey, Sr.
Williamson Sylvester Stuckey, Sr. was an American businessman and the founder of the Stuckey's chain of stores prominent on US Interstate highways. He was also the father of W. S. Stuckey, Jr.....
, had a successful pecan
Pecan
The pecan , Carya illinoinensis, is a species of hickory, native to south-central North America, in Mexico from Coahuila south to Jalisco and Veracruz, in the United States from southern Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, and Indiana east to western Kentucky, southwestern Ohio, North Carolina, South...
harvest from his family's orchard he decided to offer a portion of the crop for sale in a lean-to
Lean-to
A lean-to is a term used to describe a roof with a single slope. The term also applies to a variety of structures that are built using a lean-to roof....
roadside shed. Many Florida-bound tourists traveling U.S. Route 23 stopped to purchase the pecans.
Pecan log roll
A pecan log roll is a confectionery popularized by the roadside convenience store, Stuckey's.Pecan log rolls are described by the company's website as "fluffy, cherry-laced nougat wrapped in fresh caramel and pecans."...
s and pecan divinity. In 1937, the first physical Stuckey’s building was constructed. Much like the former roadside lean-to, the new business focused on selling these Southern candies to highway travelers.
This first Stuckey’s shop added a restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
, then a novelty
Novelties
A novelty item is a small manufactured adornment, especially a personal adornment.- Novelty item :This term covers a range of small manufactured goods, such as*antiques*collectables*chocolates*esoterica*executive toys*gadgets*tools and implements...
section, and then gas pumps. The final addition was a teal blue roof (which would later become the company's trademark). Up until the onset of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Stuckey’s continued to open stores in Georgia and Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. The number of stores declined somewhat during WWII due to the effects of wartime sugar rationing
Rationing
Rationing is the controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, or services. Rationing controls the size of the ration, one's allotted portion of the resources being distributed on a particular day or at a particular time.- In economics :...
.
After WWII ended, the Stuckey’s business once again began to grow and a number of new franchises were sold. A candy factory was constructed to supply an eventual 350-plus Stuckey's stores located throughout the continental United States. As the post-war baby boom
Baby boom
A baby boom is any period marked by a greatly increased birth rate. This demographic phenomenon is usually ascribed within certain geographical bounds and when the number of annual births exceeds 2 per 100 women...
took off and families began to travel across the country by car more often, Stuckey's continued to grow financially as they were almost always constructed along large highways and usually were paired with Texaco
Texaco
Texaco is the name of an American oil retail brand. Its flagship product is its fuel "Texaco with Techron". It also owns the Havoline motor oil brand....
gas stations as well as restaurants and clean restrooms.
Downfall, then rise
In 1960, W. S. Stuckey attempted to create a hotel chain called Stuckey's Carriage Inn, but opened only four locations. In 1967, Stuckey's merged with Pet Milk.The company at its peak had over 350 locations, which dwindled to fewer than 75 after a decline in the late 1970s under ownership by Pet. It was repurchased by former Congressman W.S. Stuckey, Jr., in 1985. It currently has over 200 franchise
Franchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
stores in 19 states.