GALION, Ohio — Five years ago Beth Cramblett woke up and smelled the coffee.
She wanted to be creative again, spawning the idea for The Candi Bar.
“I worked administrative and human resources jobs. I just used to design, floral design, and I worked for a florist for a while and … Galion just needed I guess a specialty shop,” Cramblett said, while sitting in her new shop on Harding Way.
Tuesday, Dec. 29 was The Candi Bar’s first day in its new location. Cramblett made the move there because the original location on North Liberty was too small — it was time to expand.
Obviously, Cramblett’s idea to offer the small town a big town feel with quality coffee, chocolates and other “gourmet goodies” was the right one.
Although it’s primary sale is gourmet coffee from Upper Sandusky roasters, Cramblett buys her chocolates from Ohio and New England chocolatiers. She also sells baked goods from a local baker, chips and popcorn. If a wedding is approaching, Cramblett offers rentable designer linens and chair covers at competitive rates.
In the future, she wants to offer the space as a venue for meetings, wedding parties, bridal and baby showers and a stage for musicians. She might expand the menu to panini sandwiches and light lunches in the future to help with beer sales next door. Eighteen-O-Three Taproom, she said, allows their patrons to bring their own food to eat with their beer.
“I just wanted to be creative again, you know? And sitting in a desk wasn’t,” said Cramblett, laughing and pointing vaguely to the interior of the shop, which is still a work in progress.
Cramblett, the only official employee of her shop (except for the occasional friend she trusts enough to fill in when needed), designed the the furnishings, tables, cabinets, displays — everything.
“Kind of a little shabby-chic (look),” she said proudly.
Some of the furniture came from the existing building and surrounding apartments above the store fronts along Harding Way.
“I’ve enjoyed building relationships with the customers. I’ve met a lot of cool people,” Cramblett said. “And being able to bring something of quality to the community and I think that the community has really got excited about it is awesome.”
If an indecisive customer were to ask her to surprise them with a drink, Cramblett said she would make the brown sugar cinnamon latte — it’s her favorite.
It, along with all the other food items, are available during the shop’s business hours: Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It’s closed on Sunday and Monday.
Find out more about the shop by visiting the website or Facebook page or call 419-468-5268.
