Kettles, burners and boxes of packaging for ribbon candy and peanut brittle now sit in a Colfax Avenue storefront waiting for the newest candymakers to stoke the fires.
What started in 1912 as Tony’s Sweetheart Candies in Loveland and became American Country Candies in Fort Collins in 1978 is going through its third incarnation as the new owners prepare to open the factory in Denver as Rockwood Fine Candies in June.
Laurie Martin and Ivan Fears purchased American Country Candies from Andrea Kennedy, 67, who operated the wholesale candy company making ribbon candy, brittles, flavored popcorn, caramel and toffee for three decades.
“This is old-fashioned candymaking, the way it used to be made,” Fears said. The Rockwood name honors Fears’ father, who had a wholesale candy and distribution business by the same name.
The new owners, who also own the Belvedere Belgian Chocolate retail shop in Cherry Creek, have big plans to move the chocolate shop to the new site on the ground floor of the old Argonaut Hotel on East Colfax across from the state Capitol. They also plan to open a coffee shop and host wine tastings.
Martin and Fears had an account with American Country Candies and sold Kennedy’s famous ribbon candy in their Cherry Creek shop. When they heard Kennedy was retiring and selling, they jumped at the chance and bought the business for $65,000.
“I would love to see it continue no matter what the name,” Kennedy said.
Martin and Fears will open the factory in Denver once they remodel and retrofit the 3,500-square-foot space. In July, they plan to merge all operations at the Colfax site.
“If we have it all under one roof, we can share employees between companies,” Martin said.
The couple mortgaged their homes and depleted their savings to make this move, Martin said.
“I just know this is our year,” Martin said. “Chocolate and candy is something people buy all year long even if there is a recession.”
Elizabeth Aguilera: 303-954-1372 or eaguilera@denverpost.com
