ABD learned that a company in the midst of Chapter 11 reorganization just changed its business model and is hoping a business leader will step up and rescue an iconic building in the CSRA.
Stuckey’s just closed its candy store on the property in Wrens—40 minutes from Evans and opened a satellite store inside the Boling Broke Antique and Mercantile store here in Macon off of I-75.
For years, Stuckey’s leased the old Atwell Pecan Company here in Wrens to manufacture and distribute its pecan logs and other candy treats. The company was unable to make the lease payments and now uses a co-packer outside of the CSRA to make the candy made famous 90 years ago.
Stephanie Stuckey, the granddaughter of the founder and now CEO, says the entire property is for sale.
“A sale of the property helps everyone: the owner, the lender, Stuckey’s and the local economy.”
She’s hoping a new buyer will come in and restore jobs.
She tells ABD she’ll pass on leads from interested parties to the owner. Her direct phone number is 404.964.7025
Stuckey also released a statement after the bankruptcy filing:
“Stuckey’s has filed for Chapter 11 restructuring. We chose this path to keep the company operating while we reorganize our finances. We intend to stay in business and continue serving our customers.
We know people are owed money, and we regret the strain that puts on them. We take those obligations seriously and are committed to addressing them through the court process.
We’re grateful to our customers for sticking with us and to the community for supporting Stuckey’s through a difficult time. That support means a great deal to us.
As for the pending litigation, I believe the issues are best addressed in court. I’ll let the court record speak for itself, said Stuckey.
Stuckey’s still has 29 licensed stores around the country and can still be found in the nut and snack aisle of Food Lion and Ingles, primarily in the Southeast.
Stuckey, a former Atlanta attorney, says filing for bankruptcy has been a humbling experience with a lot of lessons learned. Her goal in the future is to work with small businesses to identify issues and navigate a path to success.
She says many successful people have filed for bankruptcy, such as Abraham Lincoln, Walt Disney, Willie Nelson, and others.
