11/01/2025
BIG NEWS. TIME TO HANDOVER THE NUT!
As I transition to retirement, I want to thank all of you loyal customers and supporters for making the last 16 years of my life so amazing. I had no clue what I was doing when I started. Still, you supported us as we built this crazy concept into a thriving business. I am full of gratitude for your love and patronage. Special thanks to my business collaborators, chefs, wineries, brewers, specialty retailers, family and friends(crazy enough to volunteer) and the dozens of young employees who helped build the CPS brand and contributed to our success.
I achieved my goal of creating an iconic business that will continue to make this city a special place. Sue and I will be spending our time Mtn. Biking, traveling in our van, visiting overseas, hanging with family and friends and patronizing small businesses across Boise. Good news is that City Peanut lives on with a fabulous new owner as explained below. Special thanks to Glenn Rummler learn_create_solve for the years of support and incredible designs that have helped make us iconic.
Official Announcement
After 16 years at the heart of downtown Boise, City Peanut Shop has officially transitioned to new ownership. Founder Dan Balluff has sold the business to David McGuinn, who took ownership on October 1, 2025, following a thoughtful, months-long handoff.
Balluff, who opened City Peanut Shop in 2009 after leaving a career in technology, said the decision to sell was driven by one thing: retirement. “I love this business but am ready to spend more time with friends and family while having new adventures around the world,” he said. “My goal was to create an iconic Boise brand, and to make sure it would continue to thrive long after I stepped away. David shares the same passion for the shop, the staff, the customers, downtown Boise, and the community. That’s what makes this transition such a good fit.”
McGuinn, a longtime admirer of the brand, trained alongside Balluff for five months leading up to the sale, learning every part of the operation and building relationships with the team. “City Peanut is everything I love about Boise,” said McGuinn. “It’s local, genuine and built on great people. I want to earn the trust of our customers every day—by keeping what works, listening closely, and building on Dan’s foundation for the years ahead.”
All staff members remained with the company, ensuring continuity of service and the same quality customers have come to expect. City Peanut continues to hand-craft artisanal nuts, corns and brittles at its Boise facility, producing approximately half a million pounds of nuts over the years, distributing across all 50 United States and Europe through restaurants, breweries, specialty retailers, grocery stores, and online. Over the years, the company has become a go-to for business gifting and visitors to Boise.
Founded in 2009, City Peanut began with Balluff experimenting at home, creating freshly roasted nuts with unique flavors and local ingredients. “My goal was to build something that would bring people together, create memories across generations and be fun” he said. “I take great pride in our products, small business collaborations, fabulous employees and success in making Boise a better place. I am confident the company will continue to thrive and grow under David’s leadership.”
McGuinn added that his focus is to carry Dan’s same philosophy forward while looking for thoughtful ways to grow awareness of the brand. “Dan built City Peanut into something that belongs to Boise,” he said. “My new role is to protect that and help more people discover what makes it special, one taste at a time.”
City Peanut Shop remains open at 803 W. Bannock Street in downtown Boise, where guests can enjoy samples, shop for gifts, and see firsthand why this hand-roasted tradition continues to be a part of Boise’s story.
