Stuckey's

If you are a certain age (pre-Interstate Highway system, or early Interstate Highway) you probably have memories of being on a family trip and recalling being a degree of uncertainty where gasoline ad food stops could be located. You also probably remember seeing the familiar shape and color of a Stuckeys and having memories of a stop for fuel, restroom, maybe a bite to eat, and of course, the odd-ball souvenirs like a stick on a rope to tell the weather (if it is wet, it is raining).I have this notion that Stuckeys was King in a time where getting there was half the fun.My favorite memory was when I was 9 or 10 years old. We stopped at a Stuckeys on I-75 near Lexington. While browsing in the store, I saw a garish cover of a science fiction novel, The Cometeers, by Jack Williamson. It was a re-print of an old pulp story by the author and it was screaming for me to buy it.It is important to note that up to that point I’d never really taken to long form fiction. BAM. I had the book read by the time we got to Florida, and then found the nearest shop with a paperback rack and scored another sci-fi novel. I could barely wait until school started so I could raid the library. Sure enough, I’d read all the schools science fiction before the end of the school year.And I can say I have had 50-plus years of non-stop reading enjoyment thanks to that fateful Stuckeys Stop (as the radio ads went). So the chain holds a fond pace in my memories.This is a fun book. Perhaps a little lighter on the corporate history than I might have liked, but it does a good job of telling the chain’s story through photos of many decades and store designs. You see products, interior shots, postcards, brochures, and sadly, derelict stores.You may also recall Nickerson Farms stores (never stopped at one, saw lots of closed Nikersons in my travels), and the Horne’s chain (many a stop there, but no particular stories I can recall). These are also touched on by the book. They too were the pioneers of travel dining in an era before you could pull off the Interstate add find a half dozen chain eateries fighting for your business.Of course, the up side is the chain still exists and if you travel the right roads, you can take a step back in time (and get those Pecan logs).If you’re in the right age group, or just a fan of interesting roadside features, this may be just the book for you to fire up memories of family vacations gone by.

Came upon this brief history by accident. Actually, had completely forgot about the brand regardless of its history and earlier fame. Did some undated research in several recent business publications to discover present founder family member trying to launch a rebirth. This book was discovered on line and renewed interest was noted. Familiar format, some detail and we wish the company continued success....

Love this book!! Fun, easy read and nice photos! I grew up in the 70s/80s, my family traveling around the country in a station-wagon longer than most football fields. Stuckey's was a popular and welcome site whenever my family found one along the highway. Stuckey's had everything a traveling family needed; food, candy, gifts, gas, and, most importantly, clean restrooms!! This book will certainly take you down memory lane, just wish there was a Stuckey's to visit on the journey!!

Howard Johnsons had the orange roof. Stuckeys had the blue roof. Great memories of stopping down south for fireworks in SC, pecans, pecan fudge, those little cedar chests with the padlock to store your silver dollars and best marbles! A fun look back to the past.

I purchased this book for the memories as a child going across country with my family. Always happy to see a Stuckey's to stretch our legs and to meet other from around the country. The one thing I wish the book had was were the locations where they were and the locations where they are now. As i drive along the Interstates I wish I could remember where they were.