THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 27, 1995 TAG: 9510250162
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY IDA KAY JORDAN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
Mary Janes, BB Bats, Sugar Daddies, Boston Baked Beans.
Candies that have been around for three or four generations and still sell are staples at Frank's Candy of Portsmouth.
And, yes, there's still penny candy.
Frank's stocks at least 70 varieties that can be resold for one cent.
Of course, the candy pieces get smaller and smaller every year and much of the candy is made in South America, where both raw materials and labor are cheaper.
One South American product is the familiar candy wrapped in paper that looks like strawberries. Frank's sells 240 pieces for $1.99.
``We sell a ton of that stuff every fall,'' said Bobby Price, the owner. ``People use it to make Christmas trees and wreaths.''
In the same bin with the strawberry drops, Frank's also has fruit drops, 240 for $1.99, and striped suckers, 48 for $1.99.
Peppermint Starlights are another local favorite that sells for less than a penny.
Keeping the prices down is important to the customers such as mom-and-pop stores, ice cream trucks, Little League baseball concessions, social clubs, restaurants and, of course, the ``candy ladies'' who resell the confections to kids in their neighborhoods. They all want to make a profit.
Teachers and school bus drivers who want small items to give the children also are good customers.
That's been the case since the candy business was started as Portsmouth Wholesale Confectionary in 1972 by 70-year-old Frank Gwaltney, a retired civil service employee. Two years later, he sold it to his brother-in-law, Frank Vaughan.
``After he sold the business to me, he was going to work as an outside salesman for us,'' Vaughan said. ``Then a week or so after he sold, he had a heart attack and died on the way to the hospital.''
Vaughan's son, Lee, came to work and stayed 10 years. Over that time, the business still called on customers to sell candy. In 1976, they changed the name to Frank's.
Meanwhile, Bobby Price, started working there during high school and while he attended Old Dominion University for a degree in business. He married the Vaughans' daughter, Fran.
Bobby and Fran Price bought the business in 1984.
``I used to work here when I was a teenager,'' Fran Price said. ``Now I work here when Bobby needs me.''
The Price children, 10-year-old Derek and 7-year-old Kim, now work in the store sometimes.
``We still deliver when customers call in orders,'' Bobby Price said. ``But we don't have outside salesmen calling on anybody.''
The business now caters more to walk-in trade.
In fact, just this year the Prices moved from a Quonset hut on Newport Avenue (near the former Skippy Peanut Butter plant) to a storefront in the Moseberth Shops on Rodman Avenue.
``We wanted to be in a shopping center with parking in front,'' Price said. ``People can see us here.''
Price said competition from warehouse stores and cut-rate businesses has made it tough for small businesses.
``But once people compare, they see we still offer value,'' he said. ``Besides, who carries all nine flavors of Tootsie Roll?''
They also have eight flavors of Jolly Rancher and 18 flavors of Now and Later candy drops.
Frank's keeps on hand all the kinds of candy kids want, he said.
What are the favorites?
Hot Tamales, Boston Baked Beans, baseball gum, blow-pops, Jungle Jellies and Squirrel Nut Zippers lead the list.
Volume in the business is very important, Price said.
``To get a shipment on some penny candy, we have to order a minimum of 1,000 pounds,'' he said.
In fact, in anticipation of Halloween, he has stored literally tons of candy in his back room.
Frank's also stocks soft drinks, cookies and some salted items such as peanut butter crackers.
But the staple is sweets.
And it's hard to walk out of the store without a bag of old-fashioned candy. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
Bobby and Fran Price, at left, and her parents, Frank Vaughan and
Ray Vaughan, have preserved the tradition of penny candy at Frank's
Candy.
by CNB