It’s not everyday a small business owner chooses Maryland Heights’ Westport Plaza over St. Charles’ Main Street.

Main Street St. Charles, by most standards has greener pastures. But it’s what’s in store for Westport that has Nicole Yeager and Beth Wilson excited.

The pair chose Westport as the perfect location for their specialty shop—Family Nuts.

Yeager said they chose Westport because of its plans for the future and revitalization.

“There is a sense of community here,” she said. “We wanted to be a part of [the revitalization]. They are going to make this place what it used to be.”

Yeager and Wilson opened Family Nuts in Westport Plaza late last year after seeing the success of a peanut store in Lansing, MI, where the two are originally from.

Both enjoyed the feel and nostalgia they received when visiting that store, and Yeager’s dad gave them the idea to open a store of their own.

After three months of planning, the aunt and niece opened the store in 312 Westport Plaza, the former home of Missouri Mercantile.

“It’s just an old time, good feeling store,” Yeager said.

The store offers an abundance of products ranging from saltwater taffy to, of course, a variety of nuts from cashews to Wild About Wasabi—a mixture of wasabi nuts and cashews.

The store does offer locally made items such as nuts and pretzels, but the focus truly relies on quality and making sure that everyone is able to walk out with something. The store also has baskets, tins and other customary gift items that customers can customize and take with them.

While those with nut allergies aren’t encouraged to buy most products in the store, Yeager said that they are still able to purchase already packaged candies.

The store is open, Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.