Historic Downtown nut and candy shop open under new ownership
Greeting cars and pedestrians on E. Broad Street is a dapper gentleman with stylish shoes, a blinking monocle, and a classy cane. Oh, and did we mention that he’s a 500 pound, 88 year old peanut?
That’s right, Mr. Peanut is officially restored and has found his new home at the newly reopened Peanut Shoppe in Downtown Columbus. After originally debuting in 1936, Mr. Peanut hasn’t been a stranger to change, having been moved up and down High Street many times over the decades. When new owners Matt and Kate Powell decided to take over ownership of the iconic storefront and move the location to another street, they knew that Mr. Peanut needed the utmost respect and care. The Powells worked with Columbus Sign Company to restore the antique sign as well as the city of Columbus to coordinate permits, heavy equipment, and road closures for his installation.
“We are no longer Planter’s Peanuts affiliated and have been running independently for a while,” Kate explained. “But he has been around for so long that we were excited to bring him back. Columbus Sign has cared for him over the years. They have been thoughtful throughout the project and he looks just as good as he did in 1936!”
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Mr. Peanut isn’t the only classic piece of this updated snack destination. The new shop owners have kept the original line-up of snacks that customers love, and are even working to bring back candies and nuts that have been discontinued or have dropped off over the years. If you’re lucky, you may even wander in on a day where their peanut butter machine from the 1970s is hard at work pressing fresh peanut butter.
“We have the same offerings, and even the same scales, with a fresh feel in the shop,” said Matt. “The interior is a little different, which makes it more cozy, but we have many original items like the peanut roaster with Mr. Peanut on top. We roast peanuts in-shell for customers to see as they shop. We keep things as close to classic as possible.”
The new location at 4 E. Broad St. has an updated configuration, with a clear front of house where visitors can browse cases and offerings. The kitchen is in the back, but the delicious smell of cooking nuts is still ever-present.
“The shop always smells like fresh, warm roasted nuts,” laughed Kate. “That’s the first thing everyone says: ‘It smells so good in here!’”
The Peanut Shoppe is in good company, placed within the Broad & Gay corridor with other thriving small businesses. Neighboring shops include Black Kahawa Coffee, Three Bites Bakery, and Ringside Cafe, among others. After many street level retailers closed during the pandemic, The Peanut Shoppe is thrilled to be part of the growing area.
“Visitors no longer have to make a quick stop into one store, but can park and walk around,” Kate said. “We will also be open during show nights at The Ohio Theater and The Palace Theater to be available for people who want to visit us later. We are the same ol’ Peanut Shoppe. Just a different location.”
While paying homage to the original store, Matt and Kate are creating traditions of their own. Each month, customers can try a new, rotating “flavor of the month” for cashews and peanuts. Dark chocolate espresso beans are also available, quickly becoming a new customer favorite. Kate and Matt’s love of food helps fuel their monthly flavor ideas.
“Taking in our experiences of the sights, sounds, and flavors we see as we travel around Columbus or outside Columbus helps us think of new ideas,” said Kate. “It has been very well received and we have already seen repeat customers asking for the new nuts.”
The Peanut Shoppe also continues to cater to long-time fans by keeping certain traditions alive. The shop has always sold buckeyes from Marsha’s Homemade Buckeyes out of Perrysburg, Ohio, and continues to offer them today.
“People have put them on charcuterie plates, on cakes, or in candy dishes for game days,” Kate said. “It’s so much fun to see what Buckeye fans do.”
Matt and Kate are looking forward to providing the same excellent service and snacks to customers, while making small updates to add modern conveniences to the store. Besides updating their logo and brand colors throughout the shop, the Powells are working to launch a website where customers can place an order online, then come to the store to conveniently pick it up.
But if you’d like a custom order, and have the time to spare, walk-ins can request any fresh roasted custom nut mix with a variety of flavor profiles. The owners are hoping to bring some special mixes to nearby restaurants and bars in the near future as well, offering niche snacks to neighbors.
“Our biggest thing is focusing on the customer coming through the shop every day and providing them with a quality product. As we learn, adapt, and bring on more staff, we will be able to venture out further, like offering bar mixes,” Matt said. In the near future, visitors to Black Kahawa Coffee will be able to try Peanut Shoppe nuts at their bar.
As the new location continues to evolve, previous owners Mike and Pat Stone have been supporting the Powells by working alongside them. After carrying the torch with The Peanut Shoppe for decades, the Powells feel fortunate to have Mike and Pat Stone as mentors and teammates during this next chapter. Shop visitors in early 2025 may have the opportunity to visit with Mike and Pat, while trying the new flavors and candy offerings the updated location brings.
Over all, Matt and Kate are looking forward to being a part of a growing community with a shop that is steeped in tradition.
“You can feel this energy in downtown Columbus that is really special with businesses coming back, and the direction things are going in,” Kate said. “And we are a part of it with an almost 90 year old business.”
Want to read more? Check out our print publications, (614) Magazine and Stock & Barrel. Learn where you can find free copies of our newest issues here!
