When the BEER NUTS® Company Store closed its doors last March at the start of the pandemic, most assumed it was temporary, including Jim Shirk, Chairman of BEER NUTS, Inc. The popular store had long been the place for locals to share their enjoyment of and support for the brand by picking up something for the poker club or just something to compliment a cold beverage at home. But with all the uncertainties of running a retail store today — post-pandemic and otherwise, the company recently announced that it was officially closing its factory store, joining a long list of companies moving their retail operations to a strictly online format.
BEERNUTS.com has long been the easiest way for fans to order their favorite snacks and gear, making the move less of an end and more of an evolution. Still, it’s quite a change for customers who’ve been buying BEER NUTS Brand Snacks over the counter in Bloomington since before they were even called BEER NUTS.
“Long-time Bloomington residents may remember that our unique peanut item was originally sold at the Caramel Crisp Shop downtown,” says Shirk. Back then, they were called “Shirks’ Redskin Peanuts” and the family moved a lot of them, selling the tasty treat by the scoopful, right over the counter. Even after BEER NUTS became a national brand found in just about every bar across America, locals could still drop by the company plant at 505 N. Prairie Street to pick up an unlabeled, one-pound bag at the reception desk. It was the move to Robison Street, however, that really accelerated the company’s retail operations, providing the perfect place to showcase an ever-expanding selection of BEER NUTS Brand Snacks and gear.
Over the years, there were other satellite stores, including retail outlets and holiday kiosks at College Hills in Normal, Eastland Mall in Bloomington, and the Northwoods Mall in Peoria. But the BEER NUTS Company Store at the plant at 103 N. Robinson Street was the mother ship, welcoming customers year-round who often functioned as goodwill ambassadors for the brand. “It’s their support that helped our business grow, taking BEER NUTS products to locations all over the United States and around the world — places that traditional distribution channels would never have reached,” said Shirk.
In gratitude to those many loyal customers — and to help ease the transition from retail shopping to the online experience — BEER NUTS president Andy Shirk announced that the company is offering its full retail line of products with free delivery to all zip codes in McLean County through Christmas for ordersplaced online. The free delivery option is based on the shipping destination, not the buyer’s address. “We’d love to ship a can of our Original Peanuts or Wasabi Bar Mix to Alaska for free, but as you can imagine, the delivery expense on the transaction would be pretty prohibitive,” joked Shirk, who is Jim’s son and the third generation to helm the family business.
The transitional accommodation for local deliveries is something the family is glad to do, both to thank their long-time customers and supporters and to celebrate a retail legacy in Bloomington stretching back more than 75 years. “We’re extremely proud to be a Bloomington-Normal company,” said Andy. “And we’re grateful to all the customers who continue to make BEER NUTS Brand Snacks the sweet and salty snack enjoyed by millions for generations.” To learn more or see the full line of BEER NUTS products available for the holiday season, visit the company’s online shop at BEERNUTS.com.
