Karen Kralovic and her daughter, Kerry Langel, are serving up sweets at 1002 Main Street. Ciarrai Jeanne Confections caters to the nostalgic sweet tooth; mimicking an old time candy shop, it’s complete with swirly pops, jars of “penny” candy and vintage family photographs.
The mother-daughter duo unveiled Ciarrai Jeanne Confections Jan. 29, but the spur-of-the-moment business decision has an inception that goes back much further than that.
Inspired by the work of her late great aunt, Sophia Gerkensmeyer, Kralovic said that candy is more than a treat; it’s a part of her family history.
Kralovic traveled often during her childhood. Her father was in the army and consequently, they lived in many places including Germany, Holland and Japan.
As a respite from their well-loved travels, Great Aunt Sophia’s home in Spokane remained a favorite place where they always returned. The quality time they spent there involved frolicking outdoors and tasting treasures from the kitchen.
Great Aunt Sophia began making candy as a 17-year-old girl at the Tru Blu Biscuit and Chocolate Factory in 1914. She didn’t stop until she was 99 years old.
Along the way, she founded the Spokane-based candy company, Bruttles. She developed a soft peanut butter brittle for a customer that had trouble chewing traditional peanut brittle, due to her dentures. To this day, the recipe continues to be one of Bruttles’ most unique and beloved confections.
To keep the memory of Great Aunt Sophia alive, Bruttles is one of the candy companies that are sold at Ciarrai Jeanne Confections. The displayed old time photos show Great Aunt Sophia and other family members in their heyday.
Kralovic hopes to feature many more local companies that carry the same passion as Bruttles. In fact, a large portion of the inventory in Ciarrai Jeanne is already sourced from regional confectioners.
There is also a section of the shop which caters to international sweets. When her father’s army career carried them to Japan, Kralovic fell in love with Okinawa. Reminiscent of the teenage years she spent there, Kralovic said that her personal favorites are the Japanese candies.
“Japan was such a big part of me that I wanted to bring it here,” she said.
Ciarrai Jeanne Confections is a venture rooted deeply in history and tradition. According to Kralovic, the word “Ciarrai” is an Irish version of her own nickname and also the name of her daughter, Kerry.
The excitement of opening a candy shop with her daughter was only heightened by thoughts of the future. Kralovic and Langel hope to unveil a commercial kitchen within five years.
When asked about her voyage from young candy taster to candy shop owner – and eventually candy maker – Kralovic described her pleasure as simply as she could. “I’m like a kid in a candy shop,” she said.
