Smart and successful women are fun and fascinating. Add to that one who is brave, optimistic, takes chances, and has Southern roots and you know that she must be one heck of a lady. Today I am thrilled to share with you this interview about one such lovely lady. I feel a certain common bond with Stephanie Stuckey, in that we have both lived in, and attended at least some college in, Georgia. Also, we both have a deep love of road trips.
Could you talk a little about what you do?
I run my family’s roadside stores that sell candy, snacks, and souvenirs. Through my work I get to connect with other doers and makers. I get to share my passion about making road trips fun again. Running Stuckey’s is a full-on task that I love.
What is your biggest strength or best quality?
I’m an idea person who loves telling the story of Stuckey’s humble beginnings as a roadside pecan stand in 1937. Stuckey’s became synonymous with the road trip, then took a terrible fall due to a corporate takeover. Now back in family hands, we’re making a comeback and being part of a new generation of Americans discovering the joys of traveling the backroads and off-the-beaten-path destinations.
Why should others respect what you do?
Because I’ve managed to start turning a profit with this scrappy comeback brand even during a pandemic and economic decline. There are 16 original Stuckey’s with the blue sloped roof along the highway in small towns across America. Plus, there are many other spots where there is a newer store or a licensed Stuckey’s section within a business. They are places of connectivity where people from all walks of life interact daily.
What are some of your thoughts on travel?
After finishing law school, I did a road trip with my best girlfriend. We went from Athens, Georgia to the California coast and took a different route back. It was so much fun. One place I’d like to go see again is the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas. The place at the top of my must-see bucket list is Wall Drug, which is a roadside attraction in South Dakota.
Could you say a bit about your passion for food, art, and music?
Food is my biggest passion, and particularly the pecan. Food appeals to all the senses and is very personal. It is the epitome of art. I really like vegetarian and Indian food. My two favorite types of music are alternative rock, such as R.E.M., and the legends of classic country, such as Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Dolly Parton.
What are some other activities that you enjoy?
Spending time with other creative people helps spark my own creativity. You know I love road trips, but did you know that I love to dance? I take modern dance classes as time allows. Reading is another thing I enjoy. Right now, I am reading some motivational books written by successful business leaders. Phil Knight has a good one “Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike”.
What makes you an exuberant person?
The three things that make me exuberant and fill my life with joy are my family, my friends, and my faith.
What message would you like to send to the world?
Take the backroads and have fun.
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Dang, y’all, Stephanie Stuckey is such an inspiration. She is realistic, practical, and determined. She is a smart and plucky woman who is bringing back the business that her grandfather began in 1937 in Eastman, Georgia.
Stuckey’s on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/StuckeysCorporation/
Stephanie is on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stuckeystop/
