Since 1885, Cero’s Candies has been a Wichita fixture, however by the tip of this month, the newest storefront for the enterprise might be gone.
“I do know it’s obtained a protracted historical past,” says proprietor Betty Albrecht. “The aim is to construct it again up.”
Beginning round spring, Albrecht plans to run the enterprise from her residence in Newton.
“I’m not giving up,” she says. “I’m taking a break.”
Albrecht has been by quite a bit with the enterprise within the final yr and a half or so.
A transfer to deliver on companions devolved right into a lawsuit and restraining order final yr.
As soon as that was over, Albrecht determined to maneuver.
Cero’s has had a number of websites alongside Douglas in its starting and in more moderen years. It additionally was on East Kellogg for a protracted stint in between.
Albrecht moved the shop from 3429 E. Douglas to the previous Monica’s Bundt Cake house at 1328 E. Douglas in an effort to get in an space with extra walk-in enterprise.
“Properly, I moved as a result of I assumed it could be visually higher for folks to come back into the shop,” she stated earlier this yr when she contemplated closing. “I actually haven’t obtained the shoppers that I although I’d get.”
Then Albrecht got here near a deal to promote the enterprise, however it didn’t work out.
“I couldn’t promote it . . . so I’m simply going to shut it however hold it accessible on-line.”
Albrecht says she would nonetheless contemplate promoting the enterprise.
If that doesn’t occur and she or he reopens within the spring, she plans to attend farmers’ markets to promote her merchandise.
Albrecht could have some gadgets, similar to marshmallows, to promote on-line between now and spring. She received’t have chocolate, although.
“It takes a particular approach to mood it.”
She received’t have the gear at residence to do it.
It’s potential to make it with out that gear, however Albrecht says, “I have to take time and be taught it.”
She says that’s a part of what this break is about.
“I wish to be taught issues and experiment.”
At its starting, Cero’s didn’t promote chocolate.
The enterprise was began by “Sweet Pete” Cero, a local of Greece who got here to Wichita for railroad work in 1883. The crew left him behind when he grew to become unwell, and he turned to candy-making to earn cash.
Cero’s didn’t make candies till the 1930s.
The shop offered tobacco, peanut brittle and taffy early on, and information present it as soon as had a lunch counter, too. Within the 1930s, Cero’s began making chocolate. Within the 1940s, it had an ice cream soda fountain.
Cero’s has gone by a lot of modifications prior to now decade, with new places and new house owners.
Albrecht expects to shut someday earlier than Thanksgiving.
Along with promoting her remaining stock, she plans to promote the gear at her retailer as properly.
Albrecht says she hopes to have a storefront once more in the future.
“I simply need to put religion — I place confidence in myself that I can do that. I can deliver this again.”
