NEW CASTLE Candy makers look ahead after blaze destroys plant

Owners hope to start making candy again in the next few weeks.
THE VINDICATOR, YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- As Felicia Caiazza-Francisco watched a bulldozer take down the remains of her fire damaged manufacturing building, she was on her cellular telephone trying to salvage some of her family's candy company business.
"It's devastating," she said. "We're third-generation candy makers. You go to work every day, and suddenly it's gone."
The Caiazza Candy Co., 202 W. Washington St., was destroyed by fire Wednesday night. The cause is still under investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal.
The blaze apparently started in the rear of the brick-and-metal building in an area used for storage.
Caiazza-Francisco said everything was fine when she left work at 4 p.m. Wednesday. The fire was discovered shortly after 11 p.m.
The blaze smoldered well into Thursday afternoon with a one-block section of West Washington closed to traffic.
The building was full of candy ready to be shipped to buyers, Caiazza-Francisco added.
Busy season nears
The company had started gearing up for the fall and winter, the busy season in the candy-making industry, she said. The company has about 10 full-time employees, she added.
Caiazza-Francisco and her brother, Matt Caiazza, have owned the business about 11 years. The company was started in 1932 by their uncles Tony and Ludwig Caiazza, who brought candy recipes from Italy.
She said they hope to be manufacturing candy again in the next few weeks. The business is insured, and she spent part of her day talking to claims adjusters.
The building was owned by New Castle Mayor Timothy Fulkerson. The estimated damage to the building and its contents was about $1.5 million, said Fire Chief James Donston.
cioffi@vindy.com