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Managing a 120-year-old company - Holland Peanut Store
The Holland Peanut Store currently has 4 third generation siblings involved in management. Their grandfather (Joe Fabiano) was the first Fabiano who moved to Holland in 1902. Celeste related the story of when her grandfather went to a business organization, they switched from speaking English to speaking Dutch. He requested that they speak English so he could understand. In subsequent generations the relations between this Italian Catholic family and the Dutch residents were more congenial. One of the things that Celeste enjoys is knowing the many customers, some of whom are multi-generation customers.Celeste's uncle Patsy took over the confectionary business in 1914 and added a soda fountain. This was located where the current Gazelle Sports store is. Her father started the peanut store. In 1973 the original store closed.
Current Day Peanut Store
The key portions of the Peanut Store's business are the fresh roasted nuts and the fresh chocolate coating. Peanuts are roasted in the shell in the same gas fired roaster as when the store opened. Other nuts are deep fried in coconut oil. The roasting has always been done in the store and the smell permeates the establishment. A key to business success is that customer service is paramount to the family. You will always be greeted when you come into the store and have personal service. Celeste remembers coming to visit her dad at the store growing up. The children were allowed to have candy, but it was not a carte blanche to have everything!
Trends of candy have changed over the 120 years. For many years the Fabianos travelled to candy shows around the country to see what was new. Now much of that information can be accessed on the internet. Dietary trends in recent years have led to dairy free and gluten free candy products.
One of the trademark items of the 1930s and 40s was the paddle pop. This was before there were commercial ice cream bars and the store would buy large blocks of ice cream, cut them into small rectangles, put sticks into them, and dip them into chocolate and peanuts. In the 1980s paddle pops were revived and you can once again buy them.
The two most popular local products are the sea foam (sugar heated until almost the burning point and then unfused with baking soda to make foam), and chocolate covered nuts. Sea foam is not something that can be made in other areas of the country because of the heat and humidity.
As Celeste says, the Peanut Store has survived because no matter how difficult your day has been "for a couple of bucks you can have pleasure".