PORT TOWNSEND — When Julie McCulloch was a little girl, her grandmother would take her to the Baker Candy Co. in Lake City for a special treat.
Little Julie never imagined that someday, it would be hers.
McCulloch — who with husband David has owned and operated Elevated Ice Cream, at 631 Water St. in Port Townsend, since 1977 — just purchased the Snohomish County candy manufacturer and plans to move all its operations to Port Townsend this summer.
“We’ve been buying this wonderful product for 35 years, and we know how good it is,” McCulloch said.
“People have assumed that we have made all our candy here, but we bought a lot of it from Baker.
“Now we will be able to say that it is made here.”
A whole section of the candy room includes standard packaged fare, but most people come in for the homemade stuff.
Some 80 different lines of candy are from Baker. Elevated’s own liqueur truffles have been a signature item in the chocolate case for nearly 30 years.
The truffles were manufactured in an off-site kitchen operated by baker Phyl Foley, who recently retired, forcing Elevated to seek another production facility.
The McCullochs approached Baker to do the job, which led to the discussion that the company was for sale.
The Port Townsend couple decided to make the investment, because although Elevated had suffered the same economic woes as every other small business, things had picked up recently.
McCulloch said Elevated secured a manufacturing space in Port Townsend and hopes to sign a lease soon.
Baker’s current employees declined to move to Port Townsend, creating three new job opportunities.
“After that we hope to expand,” she said.
The Baker Candy Co. had been in continuous operation in North Seattle since 1929.
It was family owned and operated by three generations from 1929 to 2007. The McCullochs will be Baker’s third owners.
The second owners, Pam and Randy Spoo, also were longtime customers of Baker’s, purchasing candy for their Snohomish shop.
When they bought Baker’s, they moved the candy production facility from Lake City to Snohomish.
When selling the business to Elevated, the Spoos said they were happy that the McCullochs shared the value of quality and the revival of traditional methods.
All chocolates and confections are handmade.
After it moves to Port Townsend, the enterprise will be known as Elevated Candy Co.
Elevated’s retail outlet is beginning its busy summer season.
“Candy and ice cream are good businesses,” McCulloch said.
“You don’t have to give up everything in tough economic times. You can still have your little treats.”
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
