With the perfect mix of sweet and salty, Mary Ziegler has operated Half Nuts in West Allis for the past 30 years.
"We have so much stuff in here. We are nuts, we're candy, we're dried fruits, we just have a really big selection. We have a lot of nostalgic candy, which people just love to come in here and look around and say I can't believe what you have," says Mary.
The store is as much of an experience as it is a place to purchase snacks and treats. So when COVID-19 forced them to curbside or delivery only, Mary had to tell some customers the bad news.
"A lot of our regulars knew what they wanted and it wasn't such a problem. But other people would call and say well I don't know what I want, can I just come in with my kids. So it was tough saying no. But most people understood the reason for that," says Mary.
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As things slowly return to normal, Mary and her employees can welcome customers back inside.
"They see the same faces, we are a friendly bunch. You know a lot of these people I know more about them than I do some of my family," says Mary.
Always stocked with Wisconsin staples like candy raisins and Ziegler giant bars, making sure Half Nuts made it through the pandemic was a personal mission for the community.
"They said that to us and they thanked us for doing curbside. Once we opened, they thanked us for opening. Of course, we had the same to say, thanks for supporting us. It means a lot and I know that there are businesses that are struggling, so we've been fortunate," says Mary.
Open Tuesday through Sunday, take a trip down West Greenfield Avenue. No matter what mood you're in, Half Nuts has something for you.