House of Pistachios was a mom-and-pop startup launched in 1984 by a Southern California family trying to hawk homemade nuts, mints, candies, fruits and chews. As the tiny company grew, the family loaded their wares and travelled up and down the West Coast. One of the first events they hit was the Grand Prix of Long Beach. The annual four-day downtown festival features IndyCar and other series racing through the streets as fans ramble through the convention center eyeing classic cars, booths of racing memorabilia, and, of course, chocolate peanuts and tequila-flavored pistachios. House of Pistachios has grown so big that the bulk of its business is now done through exporting. But when Viraj...
Full Story »