MANSFIELD — The Caldwell Bloor Building has experienced many chapters over the past century. Its latest one promises to be the sweetest yet.
Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop will officially open its doors Thursday at 4:05 p.m., offering a nostalgic experience for anyone with a sweet tooth.
Guests can expect shelves lined with classic candies, unique treats and a wide selection of sodas.
Honoring history, building the future
Located at 80 W. Third St., the shop’s opening begins a new era for the historic Caldwell Bloor Building — welcoming its first new business since Carrousel Properties purchased the structure in 2017 and began extensive renovations.
According to Carl Fernyak, Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop reached out originally to Engwiller Properties, owned by his father, John Fernyak, while searching for a Mansfield location. Carl Fernyak said he connected with them and they are thrilled to welcome such a unique, privately owned business.
“Renovations to the building have been happening since we purchased it back in 2017, so we are very excited for them,” Carl Fernyak said. “The building is just so unique, and has such an amazing history.”
He said the candy store will occupy the entire first floor of the building. His team is renovating the second and third floors into apartments.
Chris Beers, founder of Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop, said he values both the building’s history and the effort his team has invested in reviving it.
“Carl has been fantastic. He really wants the building to be top-notch with curb appeal and interior accommodations,” Beers said.
Renovations for the candy store began Oct. 1, and Beers said the team is eager to add to the building’s iconic legacy.
He said while the company has 20 locations, becoming a part of the community they are located in is a huge investment they prioritize.
“We have tons of incredibly loyal fans in all of our communities which is amazing,” Beers said. “We are here to be a part of the Mansfield community.”
He noted that Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop typically finds its customers travel 30 to 45 minutes on average to visit one of the locations.
Jennifer Kime, CEO of Downtown Mansfield Inc., said the organization has featured the Caldwell Bloor Building on its Secret City Tours, which makes its transformation even more meaningful.
“The Caldwell Bloor Building is one of the most unique properties in downtown Mansfield,” she said. “We are beyond thrilled to see it transformed into such a vibrant, community-focused space.”
She said Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop is the kind of project that keeps downtown Mansfield feeling vibrant and ever-evolving. She added it’s exciting to see spaces like the Caldwell Bloor Building come back to life.
“Carrousel Properties has done a beautiful job restoring it,” Kime said. “This is exactly what we mean when we talk about honoring our history while building for the future.”
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A building with deep local roots
Originally designed in the early 1920s by Mansfield architects Althouse and Jones, the building was first constructed as a Dodge dealership.
In 1924, Alfred Mansfield Colby partnered with the Dodge brothers to join the local auto trade and opened his dealership in what people then called the Caldwell and Bloor Building. Colby operated there for nearly two decades before closing in 1942.
Two years later, Quality Furniture moved into the building after a fire destroyed its previous location. The business remained until 1949, when it closed its doors.
In 1950, the space briefly became a 40-car parking garage, though it lasted just four months before Al C. Boyer announced its closure.
A.B. Grafton was next to move into the space until 1955, making it a body shop for his Lincoln-Mercury dealership. After this, Caldwell and Bloor began to lease the location for nearly 50 years.
DiaMed USA LLC, a company that had been in Mansfield since 1980, purchased the building in 2009.
According to the Richland County Auditor’s Office, Carrousel Properties purchased the property in 2017 for $83,150.