Longtime Boise candy company expands to downtown hotspot

There are several ingredients that go into concocting a new recipe for business expansion. Having everything come together in the right proportions could mean the difference between trial and error and sweet success.

That lesson wasn’t lost on Katie Fernandez, co-owner of Lee’s Candies in Boise , as she began the process to open a second location of the 77-year-old company in downtown Boise .

“This is an adventure. We’re not really sure what to expect,” Fernandez said while setting up the new storefront at 805 W. Bannock Street in downtown Boise, the space previously occupied by the Chocolat Bar. “I don’t know what products will be more popular down here. We might change what we offer. We’re not offering everything we offer at the other location [at Vista Village Shopping Center].”

Candy production will continue to be done solely at the main location, with deliveries being made downtown as needed. Fernandez’s daughter, Rachel Rayl, will manage the shop, which has its soft opening on July 15. The grand opening will be held Aug. 1.

Opening the new location was a big decision for Fernandez, who admits she “kind of dragged my feet a little bit.” Her parents, the co-owners of the business said they would do the lion’s share of the work to get the doors open. It also fit with Rayl, who was looking to change her career path, having formerly been employed by Caf Zupas.

“It kind of fit perfect with Rachel because she was looking for something, too, and she’s very business-minded,” Fernandez said. “So, with their encouragement, we decided to give it a try.”

Finding the right location was also fortuitous, she said. “It was just happenstance. We heard from a mutual friend that The Chocolat Bar was moving out to another location, and he recommended it. He said if we didn’t [move in] he would do it. He recommended we slide in, and it was perfect timing.”

Though Rayl has, according to her mom, an entrepreneurial spirit, she has mixed feelings about taking on the new role.

“I’m both nervous and excited,” she said. “I’m excited to be able to kind of do my own thing and to be able to escape corporate [work] and manage it. I don’t know how to explain it but making sure I make it my own.”

Fernandez said she will work at the new location with her daughter and the other employee for a couple of months until they establish a flow and know what to expect, but then she will leave operations to Rayl, letting her indeed make it her own, “while still sticking with the brand.”

The 1,800-square-foot establishment has a couple of small tables for visitors to sit and enjoy treats but the majority of the front-of-house space is dedicated for customer traffic, especially as the ramped-up production of the holiday season approaches.

More than 100 varieties of chocolates will be available at the downtown location. Those flavors could change, just as they have at the shop on Vista, Fernandez said. It’s one of those lessons she’s learned in the four years since buying the business from Lee’s original owners, the Nokleby family.

The expansion also has some historical significance as the original Lee’s Candies was located downtown in what is now McCue Sporting Goods on Jefferson Street.

One benefit to the new location is the foot traffic that comes from being in a popular area. Fernandez said despite the popularity of the first shop, the foot traffic to Vista Village isn’t as much as the downtown area will see. Being just a stone’s throw from many restaurants also means people looking for dessert options could walk into the shop after having meals nearby. To that end, the store will be open until 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, hoping to attract more chocolate fans.

Even though Rayl has been around the business while growing up, she hadn’t considered a career in the business until now.

“I would brag to my friends about it and like, ‘Yeah, my mom has a chocolate store,’” she said. “I actually wasn’t super interested in it at first until they brought around the idea of bringing in a new location, especially where the new location is. It’s a good move business-wise. I love downtown.”

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