To spot the Startup Candy Factory, look for a large, historic brick building with a tall white smokestack that says “STARTUP” on it, just above the line of parked cars.
Alright, sweet tooth or not, you’re standing in front of one of Utah’s most delicious chapters of history-the Startup Candy Factory! Picture it: the turn of the 20th century, the air thick with the smell of boiling sugar, the rhythmic clatter of candy-making machines, and maybe even a stray caramel rolling underfoot. This red-brick building isn’t just a treat for your eyes; it’s been filled with the sounds of industry, laughter, and the scent of candies that made folks’ mouths water from blocks away.
Our story starts across the ocean in England, where William Daw Startup and his father first dabbled with sweets in their basement-call it an “underground candy club.” William dreamed big, set sail for America with his sweetheart Hagar Hick, and soon after marrying her, bought a home and set up shop in Provo in 1874. Imagine the excitement and nerves: he’s got candy molds, a few London tricks, and plenty of ambition. The Startup family didn’t just want to make candy for Provo; they wanted to make it for all of America-and with one of the nation’s very first candy bars, they really meant it.
But life wasn’t always sweet. In 1878, William suffered a tragic accident when a heavy limestone slab meant for cooling candies fell and struck him. He lingered, his family hoping for a miracle, until he passed away 10 days later. It could have been the end for Startup Candy. But not for Hagar! She raised four children and ran the business on her own for ten long years. Imagine her-rolling up her sleeves, stoking the fire, molding sweets, all while little ones tugged at her skirt for a free sample.
By the 1890s, the Startup children were grown and ready to turn their family’s name into a legend. George, Harry, and William J. Startup expanded the business across the western states. Their candies became so beloved that this very factory was built in 1900, humming with activity and employing up to 175 workers at its peak. And here’s a “sweet” historical twist-this was the first factory in Utah to hand out profit-sharing bonuses to employees. That means busy hands got rewarded for making the world’s best chocolate-covered honeycomb!
Let’s pause and imagine what that might have sounded like inside-workers chatting, the snap of caramel being cracked, perhaps the delighted squeal from a taste test gone right. Sounds like a fun place to work, as long as you didn’t eat all the profits.
But every sugar rush comes with a crash. In 1929, just before the Great Depression started, George sold his share, and Harry ended up owning it all-only to lose it to foreclosure when the economy soured. For years, the factory sat like a sleeping giant, echoing with memories of sweetness past. Eventually, Startup was able to buy back part of the building to restart the candy business, while the other half got, well, stuffed…with wool. (Not quite as delicious.)
Later, lumber filled the empty spaces, almost replacing candy with cabinets, until the community rallied to save the historic heart of Provo. Over time, the building changed hands and purposes again and again-a bustling event venue, office spaces, and still, a shadowy hint of chocolate in its bones.
So now, as you look up at the mismatched windows, the sturdy brick walls, and that bold smokestack, remember: you’re standing where generations of Provo’s dreamers mixed hope, sugar, and a dash of stubbornness to make something unforgettable. And if you listen closely, maybe-just maybe-you’ll hear the whisper of a candy wrapper being opened in the wind.
