About Us

The founder of Canipes Candy Citchen , William B. Canipe, opened in a partnership Queens Candy Kitchen in Charlotte, N.C. He was taught by another candy maker from Greenville, SC how to make candy and in 1964 opened his first candy shop.

After 8 years in partnership at Queens Candy Kitchen he decided to go into business for himself and in 1972 opened Canipes Candy Citchen in Mathews, NC. At this time there was a sugar and gas shortage which caused a lot of problems for a new business. He lost a lot of customers due to no gas for deliveries. In order to survive he opened an ice cream, candy and sandwich shop to survive and once things sort of straightened he was able to get rid of them and opened candy shops in three malls and during this time moved the candy plant to north Charlotte, NC.

In 1986 he opened a shop in Magic Harbor, Myrtle Beach, SC for about 5 years and then Magic Harbor closed and he opened two shops at Carowinds and worked the Southern Living Home & Garden Show and Christmas Show as well as selling wholesale.

By then his youngest son, Todd Canipe had graduated college and wanted to go into the business with him and they decided to go back into the retail candy business. They opened their first retail store in Gastonia, NC. From their notoriety at Magic Harbor in Myrtle Beach an opportunity at Barefoot Landing came about for a retail store and they opened a store called Wee-R-Sweetz an additional 3 other retail stores which were eventually closed with Wee-R-Sweetz remaining opened.

In 1992 his other son Butch Canipe (William B. Jr)was ask and accepted a position to come to work in the family business and the manufacturing facility was moved from Charlotte to Longs, SC, just outside of Myrtle Beach, SC.

William senior passed away in 1997 however the business remains open being run by his wife and two sons. The company makes a wide range of homemade candies with such items as: Brittles, Creams, Coated Pretzels, Panned Nuts and Fruits, Coconut Candies, Salt Water Taffy, Chocolate Covered Jellies, Fudges, Divinity (sea foam, nougat).

To this day Canipes Candy Citchen remains in Longs, SC with Wee-R-Sweetz retail stores at Barefoot Landing and Broadway at the Beach and Canipes Chocolates and Candies at Coastal Grand Mall.