A sweet deal for the family

Leslie Bruce

Steve Bodenhoefer is like a kid in a candy store -- his own candy

store.

Bodenhoefer and his family have become the new owners of Balboa

Candy, an old-fashioned candy shop on Balboa Island. And so far,

running the business they took over in July seems sweet.

Consider a recent day, when Bodenhoefer, a Newport Beach native,

recently organized a small bin of candy dots as his wife, Janeen,

stood behind the counter placing chocolates into a clean white box.

After leaving a job in manufacturing, Bodenhoefer decided to buy

the small store from its previous owner.

“He always wanted his own business,” Janeen Bodenhoefer said. “And

the gentlemen who owned it before us wanted to retire.”

After five years under the same ownership, however, changing its

image was a difficult task.

“We put a new awning up in front, and locals knew something

different was going on,” said Steve Bodenhoefer, wearing a spotless

red apron.

He contributes much of the store’s success to word of mouth.

“Ladies get their hair and nails done and talk,” he said,

chuckling. “It’s amazing how fast word gets around.”

However, Bodenhoefer did not rely solely on local chitchat. He

found a failsafe plan -- chocolate.

Next to the register sits a large glass case filled with rows of

peppermint truffles, s’mores, chocolate caramels and chocolate bars

wrapped in pink and blue foils.

“If you’re going to own a candy store, you’ve got to have

chocolate,” he said.

But the candy store has not been all lollipops for the

Bodenhoefers.

“There have been some tough adjustments,” said Janeen, who

continues to work at an accounting practice and only manages to work

at the store a few days a week.

The Bodenhoefers, however, are certain to spend plenty of quality

time with their three children -- Claire, 18; Tim, 17; Bobby, 10 -- all of whom work at the store.

“It’s pretty cool,” Claire shrugged.

“My friends and I come in after the store is closed to get candy.

“People sitting over at Starbucks probably think we’re robbing the

place.”

The theme song from “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”

floated softly across the shop as Bodenhoefer carefully positioned a

box of Valomilks on a wooden shelf.

“He doesn’t even like candy,” Janeen Bodenhoefer confessed with a

laugh.

“He’s just not a candy person.”

A pink and white awning dangled over the storefront, adorned

simply with the words “Balboa Candy.” The door remained open as

customers continued to drift in and out.

Balboa Candy is located at

301-A Marine Avenue on Balboa Island. For more information, call

(949) 723-6099.