Folks going nuts for Pawleys Island specialty shop’s flavored pecans

It’s not all about nuts at Stella & Remi Southern Pecans and More, a popular specialty store in the Hammock Shops Village in Pawleys Island.

Owners of the store, Pete and Krista Tollman, say that although their family business is known for flavored pecans, they also sell a variety of other products. Those products include locally made soaps, jewelry, hats, maple syrups, happy balls (chocolate bourbon balls) , crack balls (spicy cheese balls), tea , coffee, frozen drinks for the beach, Savannah bee honey products, dog treats and toys for animals – since the store is named for their furry friends. 

“We cook our pecans onsite and give out free samples, so just the smells alone will drive you nuts,” Pete Tollman said. “We dare you to try our pecans and other treats and tell us if they are the best you’ve had.”

Open since November 2022 in the Hammock Shops Village, Stella & Remi began through a partnership with Molly and Me Pecans, the shop’s flagship product.

“I fell in love with concept of handing out pecans to let everyone try them and saw the opportunity for retail instantly,” Tollman said. “People love trying samples before they buy.”

Stella & Remi is known for its shopper experience, he said, and the staff receives a lot of compliments for being nice.

“I would love to say that we train our staff to be friendly but honestly we have just been blessed to have found a staff that is just naturally friendly,” Tollman said, “and that translates into happy customers.”

He said the shop is also known for its unique gifts and reasonable prices.

“My wife, Krista, finds items that complement our pecans and other gifts,” Tollman said. “People know we have very reasonable prices, so everyone comes in with a smile and leaves with their treats, which puts a bigger smile on their faces.”

The couple has two children, Ansley and Trey. He said the whole family is thrilled to be part of the Hammock Shops Village, which offers a steady stream of tourists focused on shopping.

“The Hammock Shops Village has truly been the reason for our success,” Tollman said. “Have you ever met a grumpy tourist?”

He said locals have also helped and many of them are loyal customers. Niki Howard of Georgetown, who is a director at Pawleys Island Christian Academy, said she has been a frequent shopper at Stella & Remi since it opened in 2022.

“Their pecans are my absolute favorite, but they also have so many great gift ideas that represent Pawleys Island well,” Howard said. “The soaps from Pawleys Island Soap Co. are some of my favorites to give as gifts.”

She added that the store has an inviting atmosphere, and she recommends that people who haven’t tried Stella & Remi do so.

“They have samples of literally every flavor of pecans,” she said. “You could spend all day tasting them all.”

By Clayton Stairs / tourism manager for the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce