Go A Little Nutty At This Longtime Neighborhood Icon In Southern California
By Natasha Kayes|Published June 12, 2023
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Natasha Kayes
Author
I was born and raised in sunny Southern California and will never tire of the West Coast, although I spent several years living in Southeast Asia, about as far from California as you can get. Wherever I am in the world, I love straying from the beaten path, experiencing local life, and discovering hidden gems - camera in hand. The beach is my happy place and when I am not there (or writing), you will usually find me baking, watching movies, and cuddling my pugs. I have traveled around the country and around the world, and it never, ever gets old. Being able to combine my passion for travel and my love of writing is nothing short of a dream.
Southern California’s Ventura County, stretching from the Pacific Ocean up into the San Rafael Mountains and Los Padres National Forest, encompasses dense suburban and open rural areas, beaches and canyons, lakes, and rivers. In this diverse landscape are found many hidden gems, from tiny family-run restaurants to charming historic landmarks to little-known local businesses. One such hidden gem in Somis, California, is a little-known nut shop.
Sitting quietly along a farm-lined road in Ventura County’s unincorporated town of Somis is this unassuming building that has been a local tradition in Ventura County since 1959. This is Somis Nut House, originally a walnut processing plant.
I can tell you from personal experience that “Nut House” really doesn’t do this little gem justice. It is a relatively small space, but the variety of things - yes, including nuts - to be found here is incredible. This family-run business is a breath of fresh air that has changed little since its beginning.
Why come all the way out here to buy nuts? At Somis Nut House, you will find old-fashioned personal service that matches the old-school ambiance, not to mention the freshest and widest selection you will find at chain stores.
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Whatever kind of nuts or seeds you might be in the market for, you will likely find it here, and each in a range of package sizes and options - pieces, halves, whole, roasted, raw, salted, unsalted, flavored, mixed, or chocolate covered.
Looking for something sweet? You will find a wide selection of nut brittles, toffee, honey-roasted, and other coated nuts as well as chocolate-covered delights - nuts, pretzels, coconut and nut clusters, etc. - including dark, milk, and white chocolate varieties. There is even a nice little selection of sugar-free dark, milk, and white chocolate items.
The Nut House carries a nice variety of “extras” like locally-made salsas, hot sauces, dressings, marinades, honey, and more. You never know what you might discover.
Do you love dried fruits? Great! Because Somis Nut house has plenty of them, from plain to sweet to chili. And they also carry some lovely snacks and trail mixes.
Old-fashioned and novelty candies, rock candy, jelly beans, fruit slices, nut rolls, licorice, gum balls, salt-water taffy (even sugar-free!), flavored popcorn, and believe it or not, more!
In addition to nuts, seeds, candies, honey, etc., you can also find a little selection of nut and squirrel-themed gifts and gadgets. Speaking of gifts, Somis Nut House offers an assortment of gift baskets for your favorite nut lover!
The store is open to the public every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can see the epic variety of items for sale and even place online orders on the Somis Nut House website. Have you ever been to the Somis Nut House? What do you think of this little local gem in Ventura County? If you visit the nut house, be sure to also stop at this wonderful farm market nearby.
