Our Story:

     On April 15, 2008, Dave Karaszewski and Kathy LaFave opened Springdale Candy Company in Springdale, Utah, at the entrance of Zion National Park.  Springdale Candy Company specializes in homemade chocolates and confections including hand dipped chocolates, peanut brittle, divinity, fudge, and truffles.  We also have a variety of other confections including those old time favorites, gummies, jelly belly in individual flavors, salt water taffy, and the latest in fun kids candy.

     People have asked us why we decided to open the candy store.  There were a variety of things that influenced us along the way.  As a young girl, Kathy was a candy lover.  There wasn't a candy store she passed by without stopping in.  She would save every penny so she could go buy candy.  Her love of candy didn't diminish as she grew older, it only changed to include wonderful chocolates too.  She never misses stopping in a candy store wherever she goes.  Candy stores bring an instant smile to Kathy’s face.

     Dave worked for the national park service for many years.  During one point he worked at a National Park with a nearby candy store.  The candy store had amazing confections combined with old world charm.   Dave became friends with the owners and they shared some of their secrets with him.

     In October of 2007 Kathy learned that Zion Park Market would be closing its doors after decades of providing groceries to the local residents and visitors.  The only problem was that husband, Dave, was at the bottom of the Grand Canyon on a rafting trip down the Colorado River for three weeks.  Kathy new she could not wait until he returned to rent the space, it might be gone.  Kathy made a call to the national park service and told them she needed to get an urgent message to her husband.  His group of river rafters would be arriving at Phantom Ranch in a couple days, this would be the only place a message could be left.  Upon arriving at Phantom Ranch Dave saw a notice posted, “Dave Karaszewski call home, urgent, not life or death!”  Dave ran to the phone and called home.  “What’s happened, what’s wrong.”  “Nothing honey, the market is for rent, want to open a candy Store?”  “Sure, sounds great, bye.”

     Upon returning from the Grand Canyon, Dave and Kathy began the remodeling process.  A few months later they had transformed the old market into a charming candy store, filled with wonderful confections sure to please children of all ages.