Stuckey’s is a legendary and iconic thread in the fabric of Americana. Founded in Eastman, Georgia in 1937 by WS “Sylvester” Stuckey, Sr., Stuckey’s grew into a roadside empire by the 1970s, with 368 stores in more than 30 states. Part of the charm that made Stuckey’s so iconic were its ubiquitous billboards, more than 4,000 of them, which were dotted along U.S. highways. Stuckey’s was an inextricable part of what became known as “The Great American Road Trip.”
Fast forward to 2019, Stuckey’s was on life support. The brand had gone through hard times, and its former stand-alone locations, still identifiable by their teal blue roofs, were now relics of a bygone era. Some were abandoned and boarded-up; others became home to less-than-savory businesses. By this time the brand had changed hands multiple times and become an unprofitable line item on a bigger company’s balance sheet. But Stuckey’s was about to experience a surprising rebirth.
In 2019, former Georgia legislator Stephanie Stuckey, a practicing attorney at the time, received a fateful phone call. Stuckey’s, the brand started by her grandfather all those years ago, was up for sale. With no experience in running a business, 53-year-old Stephanie defied the odds (and the advice of virtually everyone she spoke to), cashed in her entire life’s savings, and traded her future to buy back and revive the business bearing her family’s name.
Since then, Stephanie has become a legend in the business community. A perfect storm of scrappiness, shrewd business sense and passion, she’s now a bone fide rock star with all the street cred to stage a successful turnaround. And she has the receipts to prove it. Under Stephanie’s leadership, Stuckey’s and its flagship pecan log rolls are back in black.
In this episode, Stephanie discusses growing up with an iconic last name, her career as a legislator and attorney, her decision to lay it all on the line to buy back her family’s business, how she’s rebuilt the brand, and what’s next for Stuckey’s.
Stephanie chronicles her life on the road at her Instagram account, @stuckeystop. Her new book, “UnStuck: Rebirth of an American Icon,” is available at Amazon or wherever you buy books.
If you like this episode, please check out some of our past episodes featuring female entrepreneurs:
Second Act Stories theme music: "Between 1 and 3 am" by Echoes
Ready For A Career Transition? 26 Minutes With Coach John Tarnoff
A Second Act Creates the World’s Best Chocolate Chip Cookie
Goodbye Hedge Fund...Hello Sourdough Bread
Heavy Metal Lawyer: Black Sabbath Bassist Dave “The Beast” Spitz, Esq.
Life After The NFL: Arrelious Benn's Java Journey
Why Leah Gorham Scrubbed Out of Nursing to Drive a Truck
Dumping Oil & Gas Careers To Make A Better Dumpling
Actress Turned CEO: Anna Vocino’s Path to Eat Happy
An Unlikely Mayor: A Retired Lawyer Enters Public Service
Tech Entrepreneur Brews a Plan to Reform Street Gangs
Presto Chango: An Industrial Salesman’s Magical Transition
Best of 2021: A Suicide, A Mother's Grief And A Second Act
From Paycheck To Purpose: A Conversation With Author Ken Coleman
Told "Boys Don't Knit" At 7, Russell Opens A Yarn Shop At 51
Scott Weiss Traded Executive Pay For Purpose
Exit Stage Right: An Actress Shifts To Fashion
Not Your Average Joe: Math Teacher Trades Angles For Arias
Second Act Masterclass: 6 Key Takeaways From 100 Episodes
A Perfectly-Blended Second Act: Cop & Reporter Start A Winery
An Unusual Road To Celebrity Trainer
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The emPOWERed Half Hour
Reaching your Goals
Insights@work
Second Life
Radical Candor: Communication at Work
The Ken Coleman Show