Martinsville Candy Kitchen to celebrate 100 years
MARTINSVILLE, Ind. (WISH) — Martinsville Candy Kitchen will celebrate its 100th year Saturday with free kids activities, ice cream and cupcakes.
The store was founded in 1919 by Greek immigrant Jimmy Zapapas. Jimmy’s cousin, who sponsored his immigration to the United States, owned a similar store in Franklin at the time, the store said in a news release.
John Wooden, a Purdue University basketball player in the 1930s and later a head coach for UCLA and Indiana State, called the Candy Kitchen a favorite local hangout. Wooden was born in Hall, Indiana, a few miles northwest of Martinsville.
“Throughout his life, any time he was in the area, he always made a point to stop in for his favorite candy,” the release said.
John and Pam Badger has owned the store for the past 15 years. They purchased the business in 2004 to keep it from closing. The store is known for its handmade candy canes during the holiday season.
Saturday’s free kids’ events will be from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. An open house will be from 7-9 p.m. Saturday. Businesses on the Morgan County Courthouse square will be giving out wooden nickels Saturday for people to redeem at the Candy Kitchen for a free scoop of ice cream and cupcakes. The store is at 46 N. Main St., just west of the courthouse square.