In this special 50th interview of the Port City Plate Podcast, host Chris Andrews sits down with Deborah DeGuire, the longtime owner of the A&M Peanut Shop in Downtown Mobile, a beloved institution that has been serving the community since 1947. Deborah shares the rich history of the shop, which was started as a Planters chain of stores. Her father managed the store in Mobile and purchased the franchise in 1963. Listeners will hear about the shop's origins, the transition from Planters to A&M, and the unique story behind its name, honoring her parents, Alfred and Mary.
Deborah takes us back to her childhood, growing up in a bustling Downtown Mobile in the 1950s and 60s, where she practically lived at the peanut shop. She reflects on the changes she’s seen in Mobile over the decades, from the heyday of downtown to the challenging times in the 80s and 90s when businesses moved out to West Mobile but the A&M Peanut Shop still thrived. Through the decades A&M has remained a fixture, drawing in customers along Dauphin Street with the irresistible aroma of freshly roasted peanuts from their historic roaster.
The episode also dives into the unique offerings of the A&M Peanut Shop, including their famous hot buttered cashews, peanut clusters, and the origins of their peanuts. Deborah shares delightful stories about the shop’s legendary Mr. Peanut and the memorable Peanut Man, Lamar Wilson, who sold peanuts at the Loop for years. This episode is full of nostalgic stories and is a testament to a true Mobile landmark, the A&M Peanut Shop.
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