In what some retailers are finding to be a sour economy, things are looking pretty sweet for Gardners Candies. The 105- year-old Tyrone candy company has just opened a new store in Altoona’s Logan Valley Mall.
This follows on the heels of recently renovating its super store and ice cream parlor in the Altoona Wal-Mart Plaza, which remains Gardners’ number one selling retail store out of all its stores.
The new Logan Valley Mall store is currently Gardner’s third in Blair County, and its opening has created between 10 and 15 new jobs. The other two locations include the Tyrone-based store and the Plank Road establishment.
Gardners president Sam Phillips says, “the expansion reflects the tremendous growth the company has experienced in the county over the last five years and our commitment to the area. Between the plant and retail store in Tyrone and the two stores in Altoona, we employ full-time over 100 people locally,” Phillips added.
“Gardners is excited about our opening of the new store and we are committed to the growth and we are optimistic in terms of the growth of business in Blair County,” stated Phillips.
He added, “We feel very strongly that the market for the Logan Valley Mall, which is the largest mall between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, will sustain the store.”
Gardners Candies was one of the first charter stores in the Logan Valley Mall in 1976, but it plans on embracing the mall’s inviting opportunities for retail sales once again.
Logan Valley Mall Manager Lou Kanzleiter stated that Gardners Candies return to the mall is very positive for the center because it adds an additional use to the mall that it didn’t have previously. It adds more of a variety of stores for its customers.
“Now that they have been out of the store for a number of years, Gardners recognized that it is a good opportunity for it to have that exposure,” said Kanzleiter.
He added, “I think the benefit for Gardners is the fact that it gives the company additional exposure to a wider range of customers that the mall attracts that it may not necessarily have at other locations.”
Phillips agreed the new mall store will attract a larger number of customers.
“We know that there are many regional shoppers who shop at the Logan Valley Mall, and we hope to reach those customers,” added Phillips.
Gardners Candies is always on the lookout for new locations for its retail shops, however, there are no particular plans for any locations at this time.
“We’ve hired more people and we’re growing and looking for great growth in the future,” stated Phillips.
Gardners Candies was founded by ‘Pike’ Gardner in 1897 and is owned by Sarris Candies.
