Save the Date! Local business owner and Lumberton native Felicia Evans Long will celebrate Sweet Candy Cafe's fifth year in business on Saturday, November 25, 2017 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the store's location at 212 North Chestnut in Historic Downtown with special activities planned for the public, and you're invited.
To commemorate the confectionery storefront's five-year anniversary, Long has planned free activities as follows:
Face Painting and Balloon Animals provided by Magic by David
Roll on Up Gaming Truck: Kids can play all the latest video games in a state-of-the-art Mobile Video Game Truck!
DSN Inflatables Bouncey Castle by Daniel Hunt
Cupcakes, confectionery treats and beverages donated by Coca-Cola will also be provided. This will be a festive, fun day with free downtown parking. A private, invitation-only evening celebration is also scheduled with special guest, media executive, Hip Hop artist from the legendary group Lords of the Underground, businessman and future councilman At Large for Newark, New Jersey, Dupre "Doitall" Kelly.
"The 5th Anniversary of anything is a milestone," says Kelly. "It says that Sweet Candy Cafe has solidified a 'sweet spot' in the candy industry as a business that exemplifies strength."
The anniversary is bittersweet without the store's co-founder and Long's husband, Timothy Long present. Tim passed unexpectedly on August 17, 2014 while on travel in Los Angeles, California. As his wife's business and life partner, Tim was instrumental in the store's opening on November 25, 2012. The store sustained damage and loss of items only a month before opening due to a fire from a neighboring building.
With the help of their building landlord Dick Taylor, friends, family and the Lumberton community, the Longs were able to rebuild from the fire and reopen.
With Tim having been a native of Newark, Long thought it was important to have elements of her husband's favorite foods, beverages, cigars and Dupre "Doitall" Kelly at the event to celebrate his memory.
"Confectionery has always been one of my first loves," says Long. "Our flagship storefront Sweet Candy Cafe has seen peaks and valleys during these past five years--from Hurricane Matthew to losing my brother and husband. With the community's commitment, our goal continues to be an eminent goodwill to our customers as we provide the best product in the candy industry while striving for excellence."
The store's fifth anniversary occurs during the Shopsmall Small Business Saturday. Proceeds from customer sales will go toward the 4th Annual Timothy Rodney Long Memorial Scholarship Fund to be awarded in August 2018.
Sweet Candy Cafe continues to support the community by providing Tim's Toys to families in Lumberton affected by Hurricane Matthew. Long hosts an annual candy event at Sweet Candy Cafe that allows customers to sample confectionery treats from the Sweets and Snacks Expo in Chicago. Long also founded Candy Kids Wear Blazers (CKWB), an entrepreneurship program for kids, and launched the first cohort in January 2017.
Comments