In 1902, a young man named Joseph Sayklly (say-klee) moved to the town of Escanaba (es-cah-nah-bah) in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (pen-in-sue-la). Joseph immigrated (ih-ma-grated), or moved, to the United States from a small village in Lebanon. Lebanon is a country in the Middle East.
Like many Lebanese immigrants, Joseph’s first job in the United States was peddling. A peddler is a salesman who goes door to door selling different items or goods. There were not many stores in the area, and Joseph helped people by bringing items to their homes. But Joseph had bigger dreams, and in 1906, he opened his own store in Escanaba. The store sold food, supplies, and more important, candy!
Sayklly’s, as the store was known, quickly became famous for its yummy candy, chocolates (chawk-lets), and ice cream. In 1916, Joseph married Mary Kirkish (ker-kish), another Lebanese immigrant to the Upper Peninsula. Joseph and Mary worked together in the store. People from all over the state loved visiting the store to buy taffy, eat homemade chocolate, and get a special flavored soda.
Joseph and Mary both enjoyed April Fool’s Day. Sometimes, they would surprise customers on that day withunusual treats like chocolate-covered garlic!
Joseph and Mary had nine children and lived above the store. Living upstairs from a candy shop sounds fun, but it was hard work. All of the kids grew up working in the store, and many continued to do so as adults. Today, the store and factory are still run by relatives of Joseph and Mary.
The main store, now called Sayklly’s Confectionary (con-f*ck-shen-airy) and Gifts, is still open in downtown Escanaba. Sayklly’s candy can be bought at other shops in the Upper Peninsula and even online. One of the company’s most famous treats is a “Yooper Bar.” It is a small bar of chocolate shaped like the Upper Peninsula. Everything in the shop is still made with the same homemade touch as when Joseph opened his shop 110 years ago.
