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Third generation business Regina’s Candies celebrates their 100-year anniversary as ownership transitions. They’re hosting an anniversary event on Saturday, October 3.
Party: The anniversary celebration includes free samples, a 20% discount, contests, face painting, kids’ activities, and more. The event and most activities are at their St. Paul store at 2073 St. Clair Avenue from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., though the West St. Paul store will have free samples, discounts, and contests.
Ownership: The husband and wife team of Tom Saunders and Amanda Sames are the new owners of Regina’s Candies. While they officially took over on May 1, the former owners are helping with the transition and continue to make candy during the busy seasons.
- “We wanted to do something to bring joy to people’s lives,” Sames told My Villager, explaining that the couple felt like making a career change after the chaos of Operation Metro Surge earlier this year.
History: Frank Elliott opened the first store, then known as the Central Candy Company, in 1926 near Kellogg Boulevard and Wabasha Street in downtown St. Paul.
- Location: It moved in 1946 and again in 1990 to its current location in St. Paul. The West St. Paul location opened in 1974.
- Name: In 1954, Elliott renamed the store in honor of his wife, Regina.
- Family business: Elliott’s grandchildren, siblings Cindy Racine, Mark Elliott, and Cathy Pizinger, were the most recent family owners. They decided to sell because they wanted to retire while they could still do other things and no one in the family wanted to take on the business.
“It’s a happy business. I don’t want it to end,” Racine told My Villager.
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