Charleston’s Peanut Shoppe to ‘shell-ebrate' Tuesday with Nutmobile stop

The Planters Nutmobile, seen here in a provided photo, will make a stop at Charleston's Peanut Shoppe from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 1.Photo byPlanters

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- If you happen upon Capitol Street’s Peanut Shoppe on Tuesday, Oct. 1, plan for things to get a little, well, nuts.

In addition to their regionally famous roasted peanuts and other sweet treats, the Peanut Shoppe will host Planters Nutmobile on Tuesday.

It’s certain to be one shell of a good time.

The stop, scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., is free and open to the public. It will feature three “Peanutters” – that’s the term Planters gives their brand ambassadors – as well as Mr. Peanut himself, all driven into town in the 26-foot Nutmobile.

This year’s cohort of Peanutters includes Jessie Carl (a.k.a., “Peanut Butter and Jessie”), Katie Krupinski (“MacaKatie Nut”) and Ryan Connors (“Honey Roasted Ryan”).

Carl, a Michigan native, graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a degree in Musical Theatre. Krupinkski, a native of the Chicago area, graduated with a degree in public relations from Texas State University. Connors, from Manhasset, New York, graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a degree in Communications Studies.

Peanuters (left to right) Katie Krumpinski, Jessie Carl, and Ryan Conners will join Mr. Peanut at a stop in Charleston on Tuesday, Oct. 1.Photo byPlanters

The three representatives spent two weeks training for their roles in Austin, Minnesota, according to Planters officials.

The Nutmobile has a long and storied history. According to information provided by Planters, the first peanut car was built and used by one of their salesmen in 1935. In the years since, its design has gone through several iterations, and in 2014, its fleet was expanded to three.

Two of the three Nutmobiles were retired in 2021 as full-time tour vehicles.

West Virginia is no stranger to the Nutmobile. The vehicle spent three days in Morgantown in 2023, among other locations.

Charleston is just one of several Nutmobile stops planned for October. Other stopovers are scheduled for locations in Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

The Peanut Shoppe is located at 126 Capitol St. in Charleston. More information about the shop, and the Oct. 1 visit from the Nutmobile, are available on the Peanut Shoppe's Facebook page.

Michael Ramsburg is a Kanawha County communities reporter. He can be reached at ramsburgreports@gmail.com or by calling 304-370-3067.