Candy artist opens new store in Issaquah

Issaquah welcomed a new local business to the city with the grand opening of Candy Mâché, a candy and art store on 25th Avenue Northeast, on Dec. 12.

The business was started by 16-year Issaquah local Brenda Zylstra, whose growing passion for large art displays created out of candy led her to start her own candy store.

Outgoing Issaquah Mayor Fred Butler was at the grand opening of the local business to help kick off their first day and assist with the official ribbon cutting, along with Zylstra’s family, friends and neighbors stopping by as well for the first day of business.

“It was really fun, we had a lot of family and friends and a lot of neighbors came by,” Zylstra said. “And of course, it was a candy ribbon.”

Zylstra, who had worked as a paralegal for several years, participated in a 2009 church holiday party by creating candy tree table decorations, which were a huge hit, she said.

From there, she began researching the best techniques to use for other types of candy art creations and began working on new projects each year including a multi-layered Candy Land game board, Christmas tree ornaments, a large and complex dollhouse, and birdhouses. After putting time, effort and passion into her projects, Zylstra wanted to take it a step further and start her own candy store.

Candy Mâché is a candy store that, in addition to selling candy, will also host workshops and parties for those looking to try their hand at making candy art.

The workshops and parties are a way for Zylstra to share the knowledge she has gained making candy art with others in a fun way. The workshops will begin in February and will all be held at Blakely Hall Community Center, which is just across the street from Candy Mâché. The first workshop, scheduled for Feb. 7, will have attendees making Valentine Candy Wreaths.

Zylstra said she began looking to start her business in 2016. She and her husband were able to purchase the space and began designing a new interior to fit the candy store aesthetic.

The first day of business was very hectic, she said, but she has received help and support from her staff, and family, as well as her other business neighbors.

“It was a little scary, but it was great to see everyone’s enthusiasm, the neighborhood has been so welcoming,” she said. “It’s exciting to share what my vision is with other people and see the reaction to it.”

For her first full year of business in 2018, Zylstra has events for most of the calendar already planned out. Her biggest goal, she said, is just to make sure everything runs smoothly.

“My big goal is just to have it run smoothly, introduce the workshops and parties on a schedule, start introducing all the different pieces of the business,” she said. “It’s candy so every season has its candy, you go from Christmas to Valentines to Easter to the Fourth of July, then you go into fall with Halloween, then Christmas workshops in November.”

Zylstra said she has received a few requests to build some larger pieces, but none have been early enough to get the project completed she said.

However, she remains open to the idea of commissioned work. For now, she is focused on the early days of her business and planning for the year ahead.

“I’m so happy it’s open, so happy we made it before Christmas because you have to order Christmas candy in June, and we didn’t know when we would be open,” she said. “I’m just glad it’s open and glad people are responding positively.”