Copyright Larry Johnston

Hot Roasted Peanuts

The Peanut Shop

South Bend, IN.

I remember in the 1950’s and 60’s, in the middle of South Bend, at Michigan St. and Monroe, there was always an aroma of Peanuts in the air. Planters Peanuts had company stores and we were fortunate to have one in our city. Mr.  Peanut, himself would even walk around outside giving samples of peanuts that you could buy in the store. I spent many-a-days visiting that store.  I was always fascinated with the neon sign of Mr. Peanut  throwing his cane up in the air.  I watched it as it would encircle the sign and he would catch it when it came down.

While I was in Wyandotte, Michigan at an Art Festival in the early 2000’s, I met the man that was the manager of the store.  He said he was the man in the peanut suit in his early years.

The Peanut Shop, has since left and the building torn down, but the memories are still around.  This is one of those paintings I did to recapture some of those memories.

 

Canvas prints available for this painting can be found here.

 

 

24” x 36” ……….$1,295.00 Original Painting on stretched canvas