Nickys Peanut Cart at Fenway Park
One of the oldest family businesses in Boston is the family that runs the Peanut cart near Gate 'A' at Fenway Park. The Jacobs family has been serving bag fresh roasted peanuts at Fenway Park since April 20, 1912. That's 104 years of service. As far as I know, the Paget family, who own the Swan Boats at the Boston Public Gardens have a long family tradition. (The Paget family started back in 1877.)
Family Cart History
- 1912 - 1945 -- Peter Davis
- 1945 - 1988 -- George Jacobs - "The Peanut Man," sold Peanuts from the stand from 1945 until he died in 1988.
- 1988 - Current -- Nicky Jacobs - Grandson of Peter Davis
Currently the cost of a Peanut bag at Nicky's Cart cost $5. Nicky Cart is not the original cart from 1912, he built the current art in 2000 using some of the parts of the original carts. Nicky still has the original cart.
Unfortunately Nicky's Peanut cart business about to end. In 1999, the management team at Fenway Park has requested that all outside food vendors be removed from Fenway park. Nicky's Peanut stand can still run, but when he dies or retires, the license can not be transferred to another person.
Currently there are 18 vendors that fall into the legacy category with Nicky's Peanuts being the oldest continuous outside vendor at Fenway Park. Vendors pay anywhere from $360 to $900 a year for the privilege to sell their goods.
Visiting Fenway Park
The next time your at a game at Fenway Park, why not enter at Gate 'A' and just before you enter, support one of the oldest Fenway Park tradition. You'll find the cart directly across the Red Sox ticketing area on Yawkey Way.
Fenway Game Day
- You are allowed to bring food into Fenway.
- You cannot bring in alcoholic beverages, soda, cans, and other various prohibited items.
- You're allowed one (sealed) bottle of water.