Stuckey's
Stuckey's is a truck stop chain found on highways 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 has its headquarters in Eastman, Georgia. History. Early days. Stuckey's originated in the early 1930s in Eastman, Georgia. 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 rolls and pecan divinity. In 1937, Stuckey constructed his first store building. 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). Until the onset  of World War II, Stuckey's continued to open stores in Georgia and Florida. The number of stores declined somewhat during the war due to sugar rationing. After the war ended, Stuckey's business once again began to grow and sold a number of new franchises. The company constructed a candy factory to supply an eventual 350-plus Stuckey's stores located throughout the continental US. As the post-war baby boom flourished and families undertook more long-distance auto travel, Stuckey's continued to grow as they were usually constructed along major highways and frequently were paired with Texaco  gas stations, as well as restaurants and 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 1964, Stuckey's merged with Pet, Inc., maker of "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 and increased use of the interstate highway system. It was repurchased by former Congressman W. S. Stuckey Jr., in 1985. Stuckey's candy plant was sold to Nashville-based Standard  Candy Co. , Stuckey's has over 115 franchise stores in 17 states. In November 2019, Stephanie Stuckey, grand-daughter of the chain's founders, was named CEO. In February 2021, Stuckey's acquired a pecan processing plant and two related businesses allowing Stuckey's to make their own flagship products again.