We Are Nuts is closed for the season. We will see all of our wonderful customers in October 2019!
The Beginning
Twenty-eight years ago this October, my wife and I purchased a nut-packaging machine, a scale, and as many freshly roasted cashews and mixed nuts as we could find. Having no prior clientele to sell to that first season, we focused our efforts on the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (now 3M). Using a typewriter to create a price sheet, I was able to cut and paste (literally) the WE ARE NUTS 'Nut Guy' I had drawn to the header, thereby creating our store’s first ever customer mailing. Copies upon copies later, we sent out the mailing to every 3M building address we could track down. The overwhelmingly positive response we received that first season absolutely floored us. Orders from 3M employees, their family, and their friends flooded in as fast as we could fill them. Needless to say, my wife and I had stumbled onto something bigger than we ever could have dreamed.
During those first few seasons, we hired out our roasting to a larger nut company. Though the quality of the nuts was adequate, we wanted exceptional. Thus began the next chapter.
I spent the off-season researching and learning the art of nut roasting (believe me, there is an art!). By the time October of the following year rolled around we had purchased an entire nut-roasting system and we were capable of controlling the quality of every single nut that left our processing room. As customers came to our warehouse to pick up the nuts they had ordered, a trend began to emerge; people requesting an additional bag of nuts for the ‘road.’ Our small mail-order business needed to evolve. We Are Nuts needed a retail space.
Three Store Changes & We Are (more than just) Nuts!
Our first store was small and outgrew itself in just two seasons. When we opened a second, much larger store, that fourth season we found that after packing our shelves full of freshly roasted nuts, heart healthy natural nuts, delectable chocolate covered nuts, and a wide array of fresh holiday baking ingredients there was still plenty of room left to fill. Because of the closeout side of my business, we have developed a very close working relationship with our many vendors. They call us with all of their short lots and bargain opportunities. So, in addition to our delicious nuts and chocolates, we began to fill our shelves with a massive variety of different merchandise, hoping to pass those savings along to you. There is not a store in the Twin Cities that can match our low prices.
This past season (our 25th) welcomed the launch of our new website and the creation of our third, even larger, nut store. With a fresh new look, more shelves to carry our goodies, and the option to purchase our nuts online, We Are Nuts continues to have record years as our die-hard customer base compounds.
Now heading into our 26th season we have truly expanded into a ‘full’ family business. Two more of my three sons have joined the company. This off-season we have been busy expanding our roasting and packaging facility at the warehouse. Our store and online selections will be the best they have ever been. We have purchased some fantastic bargains for our retail store customers. We can’t wait for this season to begin to see all of our friends!
The True Nutty Heroes
As with all good and successful companies, we couldn’t do what we do without the dedication and commitment to excellence that our employees provide.
To Lester and Shirley (now, in their 70’s!), Mardi, Patti, Kevin, & Jon... We are fortunate beyond belief to have you with us for yet another fabulous season ahead.
From Our Family to Yours
Our store will open for the season on the 15th of October and remain open until the first week in January. We are committed during that period of time to do everything possible to give you, our customers, outstanding service coupled with exceptional quality in every product we provide.
‘From our family to yours, thank you from all of us at WE ARE NUTS’
- Jim, Margaret, Michael, Thomas, & Jimmy Burt
Nuts, Cashews, Chocolates, Baking, Amish Candy, Gift Tins
