Snooks Candies and Chocolate Factory, a legacy in Folsom for decades, has expanded to keep pace with the growing demand for its locally made sweet treats.
As the community’s appetite for their handcrafted chocolates and confections his continued to rise over the years, the third-generation family-owned business has responded by increasing both its retail space and production capacity. Located at its current location on the corner of Sutter and Wool streets in Folsom’s Historic District since 2002, Snooks has made their iconic corner even larger, adding new manufacturing equipment to enhance production while keeping up with its loyal customer base.
With the latest expansion, Snooks is introducing more advanced equipment, including milk and dark chocolate machines that coat products like pretzels and popcorn with smooth chocolate. Jim Snook, who runs the business with his wife, Renee and their family, explained that the upgrades were essential to keeping up with demand, but that they come with trade-offs as the machinery requires a great deal of space, making it a challenge to greatly expand seating and other amenities and incorporate it all.
“This has been needed for a long time now, the expansion was made to increase our manufacturing abilities first and foremost,” said Snook. “In the past we had to be strategic when we produced dark chocolates versus milk chocolates using one machine. Now we can produce both of those simultaneously as we need to and not have to have down time with the transition, cleaning and prep like we have been doing. We can keep our production line flowing better.”
The expansion took many later night hours to complete. Not only did Snook install the second manufacturing machine, he installed the new one where the original machine once operated, then moved the original into the new space. “It took us a minute to get this all done, that’s for sure,” said Snook. “We timed our production around the assembly and the installation and that’s not an easy schedule to change.”
With the new addition, the Snooks have managed to add the operation space, some additional seating as well as expanded retail space. The newly created space is similar in décor to the rest of the original store, with some added touches of elegance, including a stunning chandelier in the center of the space, first class cabinetry that is stocked with countless products, made right here in Folsom, as well as a bit of additional seating for those that enjoy having their candy or ice cream treat in the establishment. The expansion has allowed the business to offer more pre-packaged ready to go gifts just in time for the holidays.
“We have gotten a lot of customers ask us if we we’re adding even more seating during all of this,” Jim explained. “We’d love to, but we needed to prioritize space for production development and a shipping line. It’s a balance we had to make but we really thought this through and made it a great space for customers and more packages products on the shelves.”
The ability for customers to view the candy-making process firsthand has always been central to Snooks’ identity. When the business moved to its current location in 2002, the new space allowed visitors to watch as confections were crafted right before their eyes. This transparency is part of the immersive experience Snooks offers, turning a trip to the candy store into more than just a shopping stop. While the new equipment consumed much of the space in the expansion, there is still more to see. Viewing windows have been installed in the new space for visitors to see even more candy being created and packed by staff.
“Producing our product in full view of the public is part of our business model,” Jim explained. “Visitors love coming in and see the candy being made. That is something that goes far back to when we started. Even if you don’t buy anything, you can walk away with the feeling that this is a unique place.”
It was those early day viewing windows that led to perhaps the sweetest chapter in the Snooks’ story, the love story that so many known that blossomed in the early days of the family business. In 1982, Jim was working for his father at the Arden Fair location, stretching peanut brittle in the window, when a chance encounter with Renee, now his wife, changed their lives forever.
Renee, who had stopped by the department store next door, recalls seeing Jim hard at work and feeling compelled to strike up a conversation. “He had his name tag on, so I said, ‘Hi, Jim, it looks hot back there,’” Renee fondly remembers. “I didn’t even know what I was doing, but my feet weren’t moving!” That simple greeting sparked a connection, and the two eventually began seeing each other after one day Jim chased after Renee to formally meet her, and the rest is history.
The origins of Snooks Chocolates date all the way back to 1963, when Jim’s parents, John and Jeannine Snook, opened their first candy shop, Country Candies, at the Arden Fair Food Circus in Sacramento. Over the years, their children became involved in the family business, with Jim joining in 1975 and his older brother Jeff following soon after. In 1980, the name was officially changed to Snook’s Candies, and in 1984, the family relocated the business to Folsom, where it’s been a staple ever since.
After years of hard work and growing the business, Jim and Renee purchased shares of Snook’s Candies in 1999 from Jim’s parents, John and Jeannine. In 2002, they moved the shop to its current prime location on Sutter Street, further establishing Snooks as a Folsom institution. The move allowed them not only to expand production but also to invite customers into the candy-making process. The combination of this behind-the-scenes view and the high-quality, handmade chocolates has solidified Snooks as one of Folsom’s most beloved businesses for years past and years to come.
The family’s commitment to the community is clear in both their participation in local events and their dedication to maintaining regular hours, seven days a week. Jim has also served on the board of the Folsom Historic District Association and currently holds the position of board president. “Renee and I have always tried to bring vibrancy to the district,” Jim said. “Our move to this location in 2002 seemed to have spurred much-needed attention to the Historic District. We can’t imagine a better place to be.”
Last year, the original “Candy Man,” John Snook, passed away at the age of 91, but his legacy lives on. Until his passing, John still visited the store almost daily, whether to run errands or simply to sit and chat with customers, sharing stories and enjoying the atmosphere he helped create. Today, the Snooks family continues to carry on his vision, with third- and fourth-generation family members making confections daily, blending time-honored techniques with modern innovation to ensure continued success.
As the business recently reached a 60 year milestone that much of the community came out to celebrate, Snooks Candies has grown from a small family-run candy shop into one of Folsom’s most iconic establishments. Generations of locals have celebrated special occasions with Snooks’ chocolates, ice cream, and gifts, making it a go-to spot for marking life’s milestones. Now, as Snooks celebrates its own milestone of growth and expansion, it’s clear that the support of the Folsom community has been instrumental in the shop’s sweet success.
While the recent expansion came with a great deal of expense and hard labor by the family, the community will certainly continue to support their efforts as the love of chocolate and family owned businesses is commonplace across this community.
“On of the goals Renee and I had was setting up the infrastructure for the next generation with this recent investment,” Snook added.
Snooks Candies and Chocolate Factory is open seven days a week. In addition to visiting them in person, customers can order products online at www.snookscandies.com, with exception of ice cream of course, that requires an in person visit but its well worth it to experience all the business has to offer its visitors and the hospitality this third generation family offers to each and every customer that walks through the doors.
