How sweet it is that Candyland has been in the Twin Cities for 87 years to fulfill our candy and popcorn cravings. As we chat with Brenda Lamb, who owns Candyland with her husband Doug Lamb, she reminisces about how they came to take over the business from the original owner, how Candyland grew from one to four locations and the story behind their famous Chicago Mix popcorn.
What’s your favorite candy memory as a child? We weren’t allowed candy too much when we were children. I grew up in Austin, Minn. and I remember taking 5 cents to 25 cents to the drug store to get candy and splurge that way.
When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up? I was going to be a dog groomer — I love dogs and wanted to have a home business.
What was your first job in the food and beverage industry? Candyland.
How did you wind up in the food and beverage industry? My husband Doug worked at Candyland when we were in high school and we were dating. I used to come in on Sundays and help him. It was a small little shop. There used to be a Riviera Theatre, and Candyland was on the other side of it where the Minnesota Children’s Museum is now. The original shop had to be about 300 square feet. That’s when the loop was in downtown St. Paul. In 1979, the shop moved to where we are now.
How did you and your husband come to own Candyland? Doug started college to become a draftsman and possibly an architect. He would come and still work for Candyland owner Arnie Kelsey. He just loved it. He kept on at Candyland. We eventually got married and one day Doug said this is what he wanted to do. Arnie was going to retire and Doug let him know we were interested in running Candyland. We purchased the shop together in 1981.
How has Candyland expanded over the years? In 1983, we decided to branch out into downtown Minneapolis. We ended up in LaSalle Court. Then three years later the owner of the ramp wanted to put another popcorn shop on Seventh Street, so he offered for us to expand or close up the other shop. The area was so busy we decided it could handle two shops. The second Minneapolis location opened in 1985. The Stillwater location basically came about when we found a building that was for sale that we liked and Doug was just going to refurbish and rent it out. Then my son Brandon said this should be another shop. We opened the Stillwater one in the summer of 2012 and our two sons Brandon and Jordan run it.
So it’s a family business that spans generations? Yes. In addition to Brandon and Jordan, our daughters Vanessa McDonald and Trisha Quaale are in the business too, and we all bounce around to the different stores. My sister-in-law Julie Stewart has been with us for 38 years. She co-manages and runs the Minneapolis shops. And my brother-in-law Greg Lamb, who is now semi-retired, has pretty been with us the whole time. We’ve also had family members who come and go. It’s very much a family business.
What’s your favorite dish on your menu? Anything with dark chocolate. Our popcorn is great too.
How did the Chicago Mix come to be? All popcorn shops had been selling mixed popcorn for years. But no one displayed and sold it as an actual item. On a Sunday in the ’80s, I was working a Sunday shift. I was playing around and said let’s go ahead and already mix the popcorn up with three of our classics — caramel, cheese and our plain seasoned popcorn — and put in on the counter in front of people and see how well it sells. It’s a great blend because some of it is sweet and some of it salty. And then the seasoned popcorn is in a nice, neutral zone so you can eat more that way because it’s not so heavy and filling.
It took off and just expanded and expanded. It was all word of mouth. No ads. We started calling it the Chicago Mix, not necessarily because it’s a Chicago-style mix but because Chicago is known for its popcorn. And we had just gotten back from a trip there and it was one of our favorite cities.
We put a trademark on the name Chicago Mix and we’ve had some legal battles or confrontations including with very large companies. We’re the only ones who can use that name. We’re monitoring all the time and there are still offenders out there. We send them friendly letters.
If you could only eat or drink five things for the rest of your life, what would they be? Milk. Dark chocolate. Popcorn. We have to get a vegetable in there, so how about green beans? I’d have to say cheesecake as well.
What’s next? I’m 60 years old and have been doing this for 39 years. I’m not slowing down yet. The store is 87 years old and in 2032 it will be 100 years old. The goal is to retire when it’s 100 years old. And hopefully the legacy will go on with our children and some of our coworkers that have been with us for a long time and make it as successful as Arnie and we have made it.
CANDYLAND
Where: Four locations, St. Paul (435 N. Wabasha St.; 651-292-1191); Stillwater (212 Main St. N.; 651-430-8004); Minneapolis LaSalle Avenue (Nicollet Mall, 811 LaSalle Ave., #104; 612-332-3220; Minneapolis Seventh Street (27 S. 7th St., #6; 612-332-7752);
For more information: candylandstore.com
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December 31, 2019 at 06:57PM
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Kitchen Q&A: Candyland’s Chicago Mix became overnight sensation - St. Paul Pioneer Press
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