Wake up and smell the peanuts.
The Peanut Shoppe is about to open in its new location at 121 South Main Street.
“If everything goes fine with the red tape and inspections and protocol, maybe — only God knows — in about three weeks,” says owner Rida AbuZaineh.
The original store, a downtown landmark at 24 South Main Street, closed December 31st. That store, which opened in 1949, was the second store opened by Planters in Memphis, AbuZaineh says. He heard it originally was on Madison before moving to Main Street in 1951, but he’s not sure. He says he wasn’t told until a few months before the sale that the building was going to be sold and would be turned into apartments and condos.
Generations of Memphians grew up buying peanuts and candy at the long, narrow shop near Court Square. As for the new shop, which is where the old Center for Southern Folklore was located, AbuZaineh says, “It is roomier. The same space in total like the old business, but a different shape. This is more rectangular, more spacious in the front. And I am putting everything back where it was before, but a different design. A different layout. Little by little adding other stuff.”
He wants to “make the space useful,” AbuZaineh says. He doesn’t want to waste any part of it.
“It looks amazing. At this moment we are stripping the whole floor. And we are putting in a new floor on top of the old terrazzo floor, which was hidden under glue and old paint.”
The new floor will be “the colors of peanuts,” AbuZaineh says.
“There’s a new paint job inside.” That will also be the colors of peanuts as well as “three colors from the wallpaper.”
That’s one of the surprises for customers, who remember the old wallpaper with the peanut design that was in the other shop, AbuZaineh says. The wallpaper for the new store is “the same quality, the same kind, but I did not rip it off the wall. We had a few rolls saved out of it. And I say it was made in either the late ’40s or early ’50s.”
Also, AbuZaineh says, “We gave a new facelift to the glass cases. And we have added a number of new cabinets adjacent to the walls behind the serving counters.
“The only thing I’m missing here is the front store shelves. I don’t have a window case.”
As for other fixtures, AbuZaineh says, “We were supposed to have an old Planters Peanuts neon sign inside, but, unfortunately, it broke. And there’s no way it can be fixed. Neon is more expensive these days. It’s gone. It’s bits and pieces.”
But there will be a replacement, he says. “We’re also keeping it a surprise.”
What about the mechanical Mr. Peanut that tapped on the glass in the front window at the old location? “He was not the original,” AbuZaineh says. The one that was at the old shop before it closed was a copy. And it was broken. AbuZaineh couldn’t find someone who could put a new motor in it. “The other one used to tap 12 times a minute. This one, before it broke, tapped only three times a minute. See how slow it is? It’s not powerful and makes noise like the other one.”
So far, nobody has taken the huge “Peanuts” sign on the front of the old building, AbuZaineh says. “Nobody is serious about it. I’m willing to give it for free if they just compensate a little. Just a donation for the history of the shop. Just to cover some of the expenses. Come and grab it if you want. I found out the sign came from the first Peanut Shoppe in New York. The first Peanut Shoppe that opened in New York.”
Asked how he felt, AbuZaineh says, “I feel good, but I’m feeling very dry. I hope I don’t run out of money.”
