05/28/2023
Our Story by Shannon Schoenholz Collier, daughter of Owner Vickie Andersen Schoenholz.
Let me start by stating The Nut House is NOT "going out of business" and the For Sale and Auction signs are due to the Micheal A. Blain Estate Sale. This is in no way a reflection of our desire or zest to continue serving you, our faithful customers. With that said, now for the rest of the story.
The Nut House was founded by the late Gene Andersen as a way to keep him busy while people were out looking for their Christmas Trees on his tree farm in Ong. When people would come in from picking out their tree they were greated by the smell of roasted peanuts, fresh popped popcorn and wood stove smoke. They seldom left without hearing one of Grandpa's jokes. Through the years he added more items to his seasonal hobby and he would spend time after Christmas at sales and auctions peddling his nuts. One such item, Gene's Prime Rib Seasoning is still popular and sold nationwide today.
Gene's oldest daughter Vickie Schoenholz, my mom, had already taken over his Lawn Spraying Business years before. So when Grandpa was ready to retire to Florida, mom along with her best friend and significant other, Mike bought The Nut House rights and Prime Rib Seasoning. Mom ran the business out of an enclosed trailer the first couple years as the property in Ong was sold on Gene's auction. When Grandpa passed away in 2019, mom used her inheritance to buy a portable shed that has become The Nut House you know today.
Mike helped get the inside of the new shed fixed up and ready for customers, but as everyone knows, mom was the one that ran it. She had some help from good friends, Aunt Crystal and me, but mostly it was Vickie you would see when you would come in to get your holiday goodies.
When Mike became suddenly ill in January everything moved so fast. He was so sick and we were reeling from the news we were receiving. He did not have a will and he was in no condition to make one. Everything they built and owned was in Mike's name. They did this to protect their assets. They were not able to get married because of a situation with mom's divorce and this same situation was the reason everything was in Mike's name. None of this changed their love for one another, their personal vow to care for one another, or that even on Mike's death bed, his desire to make sure mom was taken care of.
With no will and everything in Mike's name, regardless of the fact that the buisnesses were from Vickie’s family, that mom's inheritance bought the building, mom's name is on the State license as proprietor and was face and smile of The Nut House; the State of Nebraska views the building as a permanent structure therefore it must be sold with the land on Mike's sale. If we move it, we would face prosecution. The only way to keep this building and this location is to buy it on the Auction.
So we wait. The auction in live online now and runs till July 5th. If it does not go too high we will buy it back and continue business as if nothing happened. If it goes higher/more than we are willing to pay, we will come up with a plan for the 2023 season, even if it is a booth set up somewhere. The reality is, The Nut House is my mom and family traditions, not a building.
Many people have reached out and asked how they can help. First, let me start by saying Get A Will. Tomorrow is never promised, and no matter what the circumstances a will will protect you. The grief alone is enough without the unnecessary stress that situations like this add. Even if it just a noterized scribble on paper, protect yourselves. Next, contact your Nebraska State representatives and ask that they change the way portable sheds are taxed. If they are not anchored and are on skids, they deserve a different way to be taxed because they indeed can be moved. Last for anyone that shared my original post, thank you. It was necessary for me to delete it from the page. As is so, eventually, it deleted the post permanently so the information in it was gone therefore everyone that shared it lost the original post as well. This post however is 100% legal so feel free to share. We greatly appreciate your prayers, support and advice. We have a lawyer and this is just the way it is.
For those asking about a benefit to help us save The Nut House, an account has been set up at Cornerstone Bank. You can drop off a donation at any location. I will make a separate post about the benefit and how to make donations as well. You can also send checks pay to the order of the
Vickie Schoenholz Benefit Account
to any Cornerstone Bank or to me, Shannon
PO Box 244
Bruning, NE 68322
Or if you prefer, you can Venmo
-Shannie-78
The Clay County News NTV's Good Life 1011 News
