Peanut Depot
The Peanut Depot in downtown Birmingham is a roaster and wholesaler of peanuts located at 2016 Morris Avenue in the Loft District. The company's products include raw, boiled or roasted peanuts, either plain, salted or Cajun-spiced. Their peanuts are sold at numerous sports arenas, including Cowboys stadium in Texas and the New Orleans Superdome, as well as at retail outlets and fresh from the roaster at the plant.
The business was founded by members of the Cassimus family in 1907, and was first located about a block away on Morris Avenue. In the 1930s or 40s it moved to its current location. In 1983, Tim Petro bought the business and invested in upgrades. He acquired a Fairfield peanut roasting business operated by nuns and added automated equipment to allow him to offer packaged salted and spiced peanuts through retailers. For the first time, Peanut Depot products were available for sale at local and national grocery store chains.
Petro sold the business in 1999 to Larry and Carolyn Shotts, natives of Hamilton. Since 2006, the business has been owned by Lex Legate of Hoover.
Until the 1980s the company used the same three roasting machines made by the Bartholomew Company of Peoria, Illinois, each capable of roasting about 25 pounds of peanuts in 40 minutes. Petro added a fourth during his tenure. In November 2008 the Peanut Depot took delivery of a reconditioned 1917 Royal No. 5 peanut roaster to expand its capacity.
In 2011 Felicia Jackson began working a few hours a week as a "modelquin", dressed in a peanut costume of her own design and standing outside the store to draw attention.
References
- "Peanut Depot has ownership change." (October 1, 1999) Birmingham Business Journal
- Kent, Dawn (March 16, 2011) "Peanut-costumed woman in Birmingham starting modeling-advertising business." Birmingham News