The Beginning

Over 30 years ago, my wife and I purchased a nut-packaging machine, a scale, and as many freshly roasted cashews and mixed nuts as we could find. Having no prior clientele to sell to that first season, we focused our efforts on the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (now 3M). Using a typewriter to create a price sheet, I was able to cut and paste (literally) the WE ARE NUTS 'Nut Guy' I had drawn to the header, thereby creating our store’s first ever customer mailing. Copies upon copies later, we sent out the mailing to every 3M building address we could track down. The overwhelmingly positive response we received that first season absolutely floored us. Orders from 3M employees, their family, and their friends flooded in as fast as we could fill them. Needless to say, my wife and I had stumbled onto something bigger than we ever could have dreamed.

During those first few seasons, we hired out our roasting to a larger nut company. Though the quality of the nuts was adequate, we wanted exceptional. Thus began the next chapter.

I spent the off-season researching and learning the art of nut roasting (believe me, there is an art!). By the time October of the following year rolled around we had purchased an entire nut-roasting system and we were capable of controlling the quality of every single nut that left our processing room. As customers came to our warehouse to pick up the nuts they had ordered, a trend began to emerge; people requesting an additional bag of nuts for the ‘road.’ Our small mail-order business needed to evolve. We Are Nuts needed a retail space

Three Store Changes & We Are (more than just) Nuts!

Our first store was small and outgrew itself in just two seasons. When we opened a second, much larger store, that fourth season we found that after packing our shelves full of freshly roasted nuts, heart healthy natural nuts, delectable chocolate covered nuts, and a wide array of fresh holiday baking ingredients there was still plenty of room left to fill. Because of the closeout side of my business, we have developed a very close working relationship with our many vendors. They call us with all of their short lots and bargain opportunities. So, in addition to our delicious nuts and chocolates, we began to fill our shelves with a massive variety of different merchandise, hoping to pass those savings along to you. There is not a store in the Twin Cities that can match our low prices.

These past seasons have brought the launch of our new website and the creation of our newly expanded nut store. With a fresh new look, more shelves to carry our goodies, and the option to purchase our nuts online, We Are Nuts continues to have record years as our die-hard customer base compounds.

This past year we celebrated our 28th season and it was our best one yet.  Together with my three sons, Michael, Tommy and Jimmy, we  continue to grow and expand the business.  This season brought continued expansion to our roasting and packaging facility, which together have accomidated the continued rapid growth of the business.  Looking forward, our store and online selections will continue to be the best they have ever been. Throughout the year we are always purchasing fantastic bargains for our retail store customers so that we can fill the shelves when we reopen in October. We look forward to this year, our 29th season, and are anxious to see all of our friends who share our love for We Are Nuts!

2020 Update! We Are Nuts is now open year-round! Instead of opening the store in October and closing the store in February, you can now get our famous nuts and discount groceries throughout the year!

The True Nutty Heroes

As with all good and successful companies, we couldn’t do what we do without the dedication and commitment to excellence that our employees provide.  Thank you all for helping us build a store and business we are all so proud to share with our customers. 

Wishing you love and happiness from our family to yours,

Jim, Margaret, Michael, Thomas, & Jimmy Burt