Staying Home on Weekends Is Nutty

Bring the family out to the Route 66 Nut House Trader Days April 19-21.

Tara, Adam and Hazel of The Nut House.

You’ve been there before: it’s Saturday morning and the kids are anxious to get out and do something fun, but you have no idea where you can take them. And in this economy, cost is always a concern. Hazel Ward, owner of The Nut House in Claremore, has the perfect ­solution to your weekend blues, at least one weekend a month, anyway!

    Hazel has long had a vision of creating a recurring family fun event at her place of business, combining arts and crafts with antiques while offering all of the tasty and unique products The Nut House is known for. “I am really excited to create a monthly weekend outing that offers fun activities for the kids, amazing shopping opportunities for the wives, and mouthwatering food sure to keep the husbands ­happy,” she says.

    The inaugural Route 66 Nut House Trader Days event is planned for April 19, 20 and 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Hazel is still looking for local crafters or vendors who would like to participate. If you are a crafter, please contact Hazel at (918) 266-1604 or email her at eat0@eau0eav0eaw0. Booth spaces are available at a nominal fee and you can choose from either indoor or outdoor ­locations. Hot Mama’s Deli inside The Nut House will be open and ready to serve all kinds of delectable sandwiches, mouthwatering fudge, hot coffee and delicious sweets. “No one should leave here hungry,” laughs Hazel.

    The Nut House has been a Route 66 tradition since opening its doors in 1979. Back then, the business was very different. When Hazel’s husband surprised her by purchasing The Nut House in 2006, she decided it needed a few changes. The biggest change was that they went from being open only a few months a year during pecan ­season to year-round. Hazel saw a need for customers to be able to get their products any time.

    “One of the biggest ­misconceptions people have about us is that we are only open at limited times and that fresh pecans are only available in the fall,” explains Hazel. “So many people simply purchase their pecans in the grocery store the rest of the year, but there is no way to know if they have been handled properly. We are experts when it comes to pecans, and we take measures to ensure the highest quality and freshness year-round. You never need to settle for low quality.”

    Don’t let the name fool you, though – The Nut House offers much more. They are constantly searching for new items to offer their customers and focus on finding quality items that you would not typically find in a ­grocery or discount store. Hazel makes sure they sell only top-shelf products, including Boar’s Head meats in the deli. “Boar’s Head is top of the line for deli meats, so we are proud to serve their products,” she says. “We also sell many of the local Amish food products including Amish cheeses, which are always extremely popular. I like ­knowing that my customers are getting the highest quality ­product I can find, but also at a reasonable price.”

    Gourmet coffees, ­homemade cookies and bars, handmade fudge in so many ­flavors it’s nearly impossible to choose, and many other sweets are all lovingly created and served at The Nut House. Make plans to enjoy lunch or at least a snack while you are there. You won’t be disappointed.

    For more information about the upcoming Route 66 Nut House Trader Days or any of their products, feel free to give The Nut House a call.

For more information, contact

The Nut House

(918) 266-1604

www.route66nuthouse.com