Woman-owned business in Candor celebrates 20 years
By Joann R. Walter, November 28, 2022 in the Owego Pennysaver
Pucky Huddle Delight, a woman-owned business located at 71 Owego Rd. (Rte. 96B) in Candor, N.Y., celebrated their 20th anniversary in October. Customers travel far and wide to visit the popular purple building, located just north of the Rte. 96 and 96B intersection.
Inside, first-time visitors and sewing enthusiasts alike will be in awe at the racks filled with over 7,000 bolts of quality quilting fabrics in cotton and cotton flannels, pre-cut fat quarters, half-yards and one-yard cuts, and more, and from well-known manufacturers. Inventory changes frequently.
Owner Jen Kopcho welcomes visitors to stop in, wander, and “Pet the fabrics.”
Seasoned quilters, Kopcho noted, will travel long distances for the best quality and selection. Through the years, customers have traveled into Candor from half of the states in the U.S., including Alaska, along with Mexico and several provinces of Canada.
Motorists driving by or stopping to shop at Pucky Huddle Delight cannot miss the building’s distinctive purple color. Kopcho remarked, “When we were deciding on the color for the outside of the store, we wanted the outside color to reflect the fun, vibrant colors on the fabrics inside,” and added, “Growing up my father always had a purple den, and having a purple store was a way to honor him, too.” As for the business name, Pucky Huddle Delight, Jen exclaimed, “No one has a name like this.”
Actually, there is an interesting side story behind the Pucky Huddle name. Kopcho previously lived in Sullivan County, and a road in the town of Bethel, N.Y. happens to be named Pucky Huddle. Jen had a long-time desire to use the name of the road as a future business name, and, not surprisingly, had no issue in using the name once it came time to file with Tioga County. And as for the Delight part of the business name, that evolves back to the passion and delight surrounding the art of quilting.
The Kopcho family moved to Tioga County in 1994, and where they purchased the property in 2001. The business officially opened on Oct. 11, 2002.
The building previously housed a pizza shop and another restaurant, among other businesses.
Prior to opening Pucky Huddle Delight, Jen was a Kindergarten and Special Education teacher for 13 years. Although she found teaching a rewarding career, the goal of opening her own business was sewn into her heart.
Kopcho shared, “Pucky Huddle has truly been a family endeavor. My husband has done most of the store’s remodeling work,” and added, “My daughter worked here for many years, and my son has taken care of the lawn maintenance for 20 years as well as the technical computer work.”
Looking back, Jen chuckled as she remembered the early days of her store when the cutting area was a makeshift table that used saw horses as the base. Fast-forward to today and amazingly the selection of fabrics has grown over two decades, from 400 to 7,000 bolts.
Kopcho appreciates the positive feedback from customers, and where several have specifically commented that they have never been in the shop when Jen wasn’t there. That, Jen said, speaks volumes to a favorite saying of hers, “When you do what you love, you never work a day in your life!”
Indeed, Kopcho loves what she does, and her long-time employees do, too. She commented, “I have been fortunate to have a number of amazing women who are experienced and talented quilters working here beside me,” and further shared that one of those women started working right after the store opened and is still there today.
Kopcho’s inspiration for sewing and quilting began at an early age. Her great-grandmother was a seamstress, and her mother and Jen were taught the craft on an antique treadle sewing machine that was passed down to her through the generations. In addition, Jen also owns multiple other antique and modern sewing machines.
Jen remarked, “I sewed my own clothes starting when I was eight or nine years old,” and added, “I was proud of my clothes and continued making my own all the way through high school and college.”
For Pucky Huddle’s 20th anniversary, nine weeks of special sales were offered, and it turned to be a successful celebration. Kopcho is thankful for her solid customer base, and welcomes others who haven’t been to the store to stop in.
For the upcoming holiday season, Jen and her team said to “stay tuned for the Twelve Days of Christmas offerings.”
Pucky Huddle Delight is open Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn more about them at puckyhuddledelight.com, or visit their Facebook page. An Instagram account is forthcoming.
Pucky Huddle Delight, a woman-owned business located at 71 Owego Rd. (Rte. 96B) in Candor, N.Y., celebrated their 20th anniversary in October. Customers travel far and wide to visit the popular purple building, located just north of the Rte. 96 and 96B intersection.
Inside, first-time visitors and sewing enthusiasts alike will be in awe at the racks filled with over 7,000 bolts of quality quilting fabrics in cotton and cotton flannels, pre-cut fat quarters, half-yards and one-yard cuts, and more, and from well-known manufacturers. Inventory changes frequently.
Owner Jen Kopcho welcomes visitors to stop in, wander, and “Pet the fabrics.”
Seasoned quilters, Kopcho noted, will travel long distances for the best quality and selection. Through the years, customers have traveled into Candor from half of the states in the U.S., including Alaska, along with Mexico and several provinces of Canada.
Motorists driving by or stopping to shop at Pucky Huddle Delight cannot miss the building’s distinctive purple color. Kopcho remarked, “When we were deciding on the color for the outside of the store, we wanted the outside color to reflect the fun, vibrant colors on the fabrics inside,” and added, “Growing up my father always had a purple den, and having a purple store was a way to honor him, too.” As for the business name, Pucky Huddle Delight, Jen exclaimed, “No one has a name like this.”
Actually, there is an interesting side story behind the Pucky Huddle name. Kopcho previously lived in Sullivan County, and a road in the town of Bethel, N.Y. happens to be named Pucky Huddle. Jen had a long-time desire to use the name of the road as a future business name, and, not surprisingly, had no issue in using the name once it came time to file with Tioga County. And as for the Delight part of the business name, that evolves back to the passion and delight surrounding the art of quilting.
The Kopcho family moved to Tioga County in 1994, and where they purchased the property in 2001. The business officially opened on Oct. 11, 2002.
The building previously housed a pizza shop and another restaurant, among other businesses.
Prior to opening Pucky Huddle Delight, Jen was a Kindergarten and Special Education teacher for 13 years. Although she found teaching a rewarding career, the goal of opening her own business was sewn into her heart.
Kopcho shared, “Pucky Huddle has truly been a family endeavor. My husband has done most of the store’s remodeling work,” and added, “My daughter worked here for many years, and my son has taken care of the lawn maintenance for 20 years as well as the technical computer work.”
Looking back, Jen chuckled as she remembered the early days of her store when the cutting area was a makeshift table that used saw horses as the base. Fast-forward to today and amazingly the selection of fabrics has grown over two decades, from 400 to 7,000 bolts.
Kopcho appreciates the positive feedback from customers, and where several have specifically commented that they have never been in the shop when Jen wasn’t there. That, Jen said, speaks volumes to a favorite saying of hers, “When you do what you love, you never work a day in your life!”
Indeed, Kopcho loves what she does, and her long-time employees do, too. She commented, “I have been fortunate to have a number of amazing women who are experienced and talented quilters working here beside me,” and further shared that one of those women started working right after the store opened and is still there today.
Kopcho’s inspiration for sewing and quilting began at an early age. Her great-grandmother was a seamstress, and her mother and Jen were taught the craft on an antique treadle sewing machine that was passed down to her through the generations. In addition, Jen also owns multiple other antique and modern sewing machines.
Jen remarked, “I sewed my own clothes starting when I was eight or nine years old,” and added, “I was proud of my clothes and continued making my own all the way through high school and college.”
For Pucky Huddle’s 20th anniversary, nine weeks of special sales were offered, and it turned to be a successful celebration. Kopcho is thankful for her solid customer base, and welcomes others who haven’t been to the store to stop in.
For the upcoming holiday season, Jen and her team said to “stay tuned for the Twelve Days of Christmas offerings.”
Pucky Huddle Delight is open Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn more about them at puckyhuddledelight.com, or visit their Facebook page. An Instagram account is forthcoming.
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Candor Main Street Liquor Store Has New Owner
By Carol Henry, January 22, 2022
Lisa Rose, the new owner of what was once Main Street Spirits on 84 Main St. in Candor, has renamed the business Main Street Liquor.
In bygone days, the site was originally Jennings Drug Store. The Candor Courier, established in 1899, by Will L. Beebe, moved to this site in 1945. Robert and Frances Fox bought the business in 1952, and in 1956 William A. Muir purchased the newspaper and operated the presses until 1967. In the 1970’s it housed Candor Family Practice, then Ward Chiropractic Practice, and then later Candor Dental Care. It then became the home of Teresa Twarz, who purchased the property in 2007, and transformed it into Main Street Spirits in 2010.
Although Rose’s son and daughter-in-law, Chad and Athena Rose, own the building, as well as the Candor Market complex, she purchased, owns, and runs the liquor business independently.
“I was ready for a career change,” Rose said. “I had been working as Manager of Facilities Procurement at Cornell University for the past several years and felt I had the foundation for taking on the challenge.” The challenge involved a few essentials, like getting LLC and Fed ID#, submitting the purchase offer, creating a sales tax account, purchasing insurances, applying for a liquor license, and following through on the closing. She opened the doors on July 15, 2021.
“It was a lengthy process, and a lot of gathering of documents. Everything went smoothly. I hired a Liquor License Consultant to handle the liquor license process, and my attorney and accountant led the way with financial and legal matters.”
Rose has established standard hours, daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., but is closed on Sunday. The inventory has been increased, and she has a standing 10% off wine discount every Monday. And although indoor wine tasting events have been put on hold due to Covid, they occasionally open a bottle of wine for tasting at the checkout, and held a wine tasting event during Candor’s Fall Festival.
“I currently have a couple of regular part time workers—my daughter-n-law, Melissa Rose, and Bartt Smith (a partner in the larger project underway at 82 Main Street, where the Candor Market was located). In addition, I have a handful of casual workers as needed, my daughter Jacki Hinkle, Rhonda Larry, Courtney Hazen, Jackie Mitchell, Ally Ferris, and Tessie Smith.”
Main Street Liquor can be found in a google search under Liquor Store Candor NY, and on Facebook at: Main Street Liquor, which includes updates on new items, events, and holiday hours.
Lisa Rose, the new owner of what was once Main Street Spirits on 84 Main St. in Candor, has renamed the business Main Street Liquor.
In bygone days, the site was originally Jennings Drug Store. The Candor Courier, established in 1899, by Will L. Beebe, moved to this site in 1945. Robert and Frances Fox bought the business in 1952, and in 1956 William A. Muir purchased the newspaper and operated the presses until 1967. In the 1970’s it housed Candor Family Practice, then Ward Chiropractic Practice, and then later Candor Dental Care. It then became the home of Teresa Twarz, who purchased the property in 2007, and transformed it into Main Street Spirits in 2010.
Although Rose’s son and daughter-in-law, Chad and Athena Rose, own the building, as well as the Candor Market complex, she purchased, owns, and runs the liquor business independently.
“I was ready for a career change,” Rose said. “I had been working as Manager of Facilities Procurement at Cornell University for the past several years and felt I had the foundation for taking on the challenge.” The challenge involved a few essentials, like getting LLC and Fed ID#, submitting the purchase offer, creating a sales tax account, purchasing insurances, applying for a liquor license, and following through on the closing. She opened the doors on July 15, 2021.
“It was a lengthy process, and a lot of gathering of documents. Everything went smoothly. I hired a Liquor License Consultant to handle the liquor license process, and my attorney and accountant led the way with financial and legal matters.”
Rose has established standard hours, daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., but is closed on Sunday. The inventory has been increased, and she has a standing 10% off wine discount every Monday. And although indoor wine tasting events have been put on hold due to Covid, they occasionally open a bottle of wine for tasting at the checkout, and held a wine tasting event during Candor’s Fall Festival.
“I currently have a couple of regular part time workers—my daughter-n-law, Melissa Rose, and Bartt Smith (a partner in the larger project underway at 82 Main Street, where the Candor Market was located). In addition, I have a handful of casual workers as needed, my daughter Jacki Hinkle, Rhonda Larry, Courtney Hazen, Jackie Mitchell, Ally Ferris, and Tessie Smith.”
Main Street Liquor can be found in a google search under Liquor Store Candor NY, and on Facebook at: Main Street Liquor, which includes updates on new items, events, and holiday hours.
Holding on to History in Candor
- By Jaime Cone, Ithaca.com, February 25, 2022
- Picture of Carol Henry, Candor Town Historian
There is something unique about Candor that inspires people to keep its history alive. That special something is actually the people, Henry said, who inspire each other to do the work, decade after decade, so that new generations can discover their town’s past.
The Candor History Center even has a dedicated group of volunteers that keeps everything organized; the women meet from 9 a.m. to noon every Monday they sort through documents and pull records and photos for the public to view. People can show up during that time, or they can call and make an appointment to view archived items at other times at (607) 759-4001.
“People coming in are no longer from Candor, or their families are coming to do some research on their family’s homes and businesses that their families were involved in,” Henry said. “So it’s nice to have that group together, and the ladies are spending so much time and doing a fantastic job.”
The Candor Historical Society is a very active organization with a new president, Nancy Riggs, who stepped into the role last June.
Renovations for the new history center building—the old Grange building on Main Street—have been underway for the last five years and are still continuing. Henry said the building still needs new siding, windows, doors, flooring in some areas, insulation, and new handicap bathrooms, as well as some septic and water work. The bathrooms are already paid for with a grant, but as with many of the ongoing projects, the actual construction will have to wait until the weather warms up.
Henry has already secured some grant funding for the renovations, and she continues to seek out new grant opportunities.
All of Candor History Center’s programs are free and open to the public, and they have a full schedule of education talks lined up for the coming year.
Chamber Member Side Hill Acres Goat Farm is in the News
From the Ithaca Times by Jaime Cone
Side Hill Acres in Candor has been in business for 35 years, and even during the pandemic the small business has thrived. “Life at the farm has gone well,” Kellogg said, “especially now we know spring is coming and we see sunshine.”
She said the farm has stayed busy during the pandemic mainly because it is considered an essential business; it produces goat milk products that consumers need, and the attached farm store is considered essential as well because of its grocery items, such as fresh eggs, beef, pork and chicken.
This time of year is “kidding season.” “As I’m writing this we had another set of quads,” Kellogg said, adding that this is the third set of quads this year. “That makes the babies multiply pretty quick,” Kellogg said.
Throughout the pandemic the farm has been able to keep up with the goat milk demand and keep prices the same. They have even expanded their store’s offerings. “We are always looking for new items to have available for our customers,” Kellogg said. “We met up with Paradiso’s Village Bakery from Montour Falls, another small business, and decided to carry their pastries. It has been a big hit…Good tasting too.”
She added that there will be new items soon, such as pies and pre-order cakes. “I’m pretty excited about being able to offer pies and cakes to our customers,” Kellogg said. It will be on a pre-order basis. Customers are asked to put in their orders by Wednesday for delivery on Friday. “We also carry great tasting Pipe Creek Breads made here in Candor,” Kellogg added.
Due to the pandemic, the farm has been restricted from doing cheese sampling and tours, but Kellogg was notified recently that they may resume tours April 2. “Of course, there will be restrictions wearing—a mask, etc.,” she explained. “We are really excited, and the goats will be, too. They have missed the companionship of visitors and, of course, getting their pictures taken.”
Kidding season for the farm comes in three stages so that the they have production year-round. “We first started in October with about 25 giving birth,” said Kellogg. “That helps our supply milk through the winter months.” In February and March the farm starts “freshening” (having babies) again. So far Side Hill has had 65 kids, and more are due in April.
“The most important factor that has allowed us to survive the pandemic is to look at what we can do and plan to make it work. Knowing what customers want and needed was a big plus.” She also attributes the farm’s survival to not to giving up and having determination to survive. “We would like to thank our community our customers, friends and family for keeping us in business during this whole pandemic,” Kellogg said, “and for all the support that they have shown.”
Side Hill Acres is located at 79 Spencer Rd., Candor. For inquires, call (607) 222-0321.
Side Hill Acres in Candor has been in business for 35 years, and even during the pandemic the small business has thrived. “Life at the farm has gone well,” Kellogg said, “especially now we know spring is coming and we see sunshine.”
She said the farm has stayed busy during the pandemic mainly because it is considered an essential business; it produces goat milk products that consumers need, and the attached farm store is considered essential as well because of its grocery items, such as fresh eggs, beef, pork and chicken.
This time of year is “kidding season.” “As I’m writing this we had another set of quads,” Kellogg said, adding that this is the third set of quads this year. “That makes the babies multiply pretty quick,” Kellogg said.
Throughout the pandemic the farm has been able to keep up with the goat milk demand and keep prices the same. They have even expanded their store’s offerings. “We are always looking for new items to have available for our customers,” Kellogg said. “We met up with Paradiso’s Village Bakery from Montour Falls, another small business, and decided to carry their pastries. It has been a big hit…Good tasting too.”
She added that there will be new items soon, such as pies and pre-order cakes. “I’m pretty excited about being able to offer pies and cakes to our customers,” Kellogg said. It will be on a pre-order basis. Customers are asked to put in their orders by Wednesday for delivery on Friday. “We also carry great tasting Pipe Creek Breads made here in Candor,” Kellogg added.
Due to the pandemic, the farm has been restricted from doing cheese sampling and tours, but Kellogg was notified recently that they may resume tours April 2. “Of course, there will be restrictions wearing—a mask, etc.,” she explained. “We are really excited, and the goats will be, too. They have missed the companionship of visitors and, of course, getting their pictures taken.”
Kidding season for the farm comes in three stages so that the they have production year-round. “We first started in October with about 25 giving birth,” said Kellogg. “That helps our supply milk through the winter months.” In February and March the farm starts “freshening” (having babies) again. So far Side Hill has had 65 kids, and more are due in April.
“The most important factor that has allowed us to survive the pandemic is to look at what we can do and plan to make it work. Knowing what customers want and needed was a big plus.” She also attributes the farm’s survival to not to giving up and having determination to survive. “We would like to thank our community our customers, friends and family for keeping us in business during this whole pandemic,” Kellogg said, “and for all the support that they have shown.”
Side Hill Acres is located at 79 Spencer Rd., Candor. For inquires, call (607) 222-0321.