Noting that not everyone gets to Savannah, Ga., to visit River Street Sweets or Savannah’s Candy Kitchen, Tim Strickland, co-owner of the recently created River Street Sweets•Savannah’s Candy Kitchen franchise operation, says you can just put a packaged praline from either one of the retail shops in the microwave for 10 seconds or more and nearly get the same result.
Seems the people of Savannah and an ever growing segment of the South agree. The franchise organization, which was launched last year, bases its business plan on a concept going back to 1973. It’s a plan that’s been tested through two retail candy store chains that today comprise 17 stores and joint revenues exceeding $30 million.
Sound a bit complicated? Not really, if you just remember that it all revolves around the Strickland family. Moreover, it was Tim, son of Pam and Stan Strickland, who was responsible for getting his entrepreneurial parents into the candy business.
In 1973, the Strickland family had opened up a retail gift shop dubbed the Cotton Bale on River Street, which at the time was still an industrial-looking area on Savannah’s waterfront. The fledgling storefront had a variety of knickknacks for sale to tourists. Intent on finding some additional items to offer customers, Tim’s parents had taken the family to the Atlanta Gift Market show to find some merchandise.
As Jennifer Strickland, Tim’s sister and co-owner, remembers, it was Tim, 11 at the time and prone to exploring, who wandered away from the family entourage.About two aisles further off, Tim found the Calico Fudge booth. Upon getting a sample, he quickly ran back to his father and urged him to visit the candy maker. It didn’t take long before the Stricklands were hauling back a fudge pot to Savannah.
The fudge proved to be a strong draw. In fact, within six months, the gift shop had completely converted into a candy shop. But, it was the development of pralines that make the transformation possible.