The Peanut Wagon has been a fixture in downtown Walterboro since the 1930’s. Beginning business in the lot next to the old Downtown Belk Store and the Brick Store Yard, this is where the city parking lot is today.
David Drawdy’s grandfather started the business out of the back of a 1930’s era pickup truck. The family continues the tradition of using pickup trucks today, with the ‘30’s truck being replaced by a ‘55 Chevrolet, and today they us a 1968 Chevrolet truck towed to the site between May and August of each year.
The Peanut Wagon has been located at a total of 3 locations, the second spot was at the end of Washington Street across from Hiott’s Pharmacy and the current location in the vacant lot behind the Legislative Delegation Building on Memorial Avenue.
In the ‘30’s the peanuts were .10 cents a bag, always fresh and with the trademark dog ears brown bags keeping them fresh. When Mr. Drawdy took over from his grandfather the bags were $1 each. Today they have two sizes and are $3 an $5 per bag. The peanuts are boiled fresh every morning and typically sell out by lunchtime. Mr. Drawdy typically grows his own peanuts but some years he purchases them to sell.
Mr. Drawdy has seen multiple generations of people stop by to buy his peanuts. He says, “I have people traveling I-95 that come into town to get peanuts to eat on their way to Florida.” This has become a tradition for them over the years to stop by the Peanut Wagon.
Mr Drawdy is now teaching his grandchildren to bag and sell the peanuts and he has no intention of stopping. Everybody looks forward to the Peanut Wagon to open for the season. Stopping by, grabbing some bags and taking them to the beach. Next week Mr. Drawdy will be adding Watermelons to sell just in time for the 4th of July.
