50 years of pralines, fudge and the sweet legacy of River Street Sweets' Strickland family

Laura Nwogu, Savannah Morning News
·4 min read

Walking down the paved cobblestones of River Street can be an extreme sport, but so is resisting the decadent smells wafting from Savannah’s oldest candy store, River Street Sweets. It’s an experience that is highlighted by the neon sign that heralds its world-famous pralines as free samples of cream, sugar, butter and pecans are handed to customers young and old who take in displays of fudge, bear claws, salt water taffy, gourmet popcorn and more gourmet sweets.

For 50 years, that experience has been a treasured part of visiting and living in the Hostess City.

Sibling owners Tim and Jennifer Strickland celebrated the momentous anniversary in March with a new brick-and-mortar on Broughton Street, expanding its foothold and legacy in Savannah and Coastal Georgia.

Tim Strickland, Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, Pam Strickland, and Jennifer Strickland cut the ribbon during the grand opening celebration for the newest location of River Street Sweets at 32 E. Broughton Street on March 21.
Tim Strickland, Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, Pam Strickland, and Jennifer Strickland cut the ribbon during the grand opening celebration for the newest location of River Street Sweets at 32 E. Broughton Street on March 21.

It’s a legacy that began with the Cotton Bale, a Christmas gift shop started by their grandmother Georgia Nash, mother Pamela Strickland and father Stan “The Candy Man” Strickland. At the time, River Street wasn’t the bustling area of activity and tourists it is today, and with expensive rent that reflected the times — $50 — the family struggled for years.

But all it took was the stumbling curiosity of a young Tim at an Atlanta Gift Show in 1973 and two fudge pots purchased from Calico Cottage’s Larry Wurzel to turn their fates around.

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“Dad right on the spot — I don't think mom knew that he bought the pots — but he bought two fudge pots, and those first pots famously showed up at our store,” Tim said.

Weeks later, Jennifer made the first batch of fudge, a mint chocolate chip flavor they sold on St. Patrick’s Day. “I found the fudge, Jennifer made the first batch of buds and then dad was a real tinkerer.”

Tim Strickland stands alongside his sister, Jennifer, inside the River Street Sweets location in Habersham Village in this file photo.
Tim Strickland stands alongside his sister, Jennifer, inside the River Street Sweets location in Habersham Village in this file photo.

Stan Strickland modified the fudge pots which then became the praline pots, some of which are still used today, and that began the journey to concoct River Street Sweets’ mouth-watering recipe for fudge and pralines. With a Southern Living cookbook in hand, Pamela read out a praline recipe to Stan who manned the stovetop as he tinkered with the ingredients.

That recipe, created on the stovetop of their Waters Avenue home, became the recipe that has captured the hearts of many along with the many other candies and treats they soon introduced.

Freshly made pralines at River Street Sweets on River Street.
Freshly made pralines at River Street Sweets on River Street.

It’s those southern sweets, along with the extension of a spatula with a hot, crumbled praline — a staple that happened when Stan mistakenly forget to butter the praline table, causing them to fall apart — longtime workers who are dedicated to providing the best interactive experience and Southern hospitality at its purest that Tim believes keeps people coming back.

From children to older adults, first-timers to frequent customers with stories of previous visits mingling in their minds, generations of people walk through the original River Street store and the others dotted around the city every day.

Abigile Biddle, 9, visiting River Street Sweets with her parents from Charleston eats a praline. On Wednesday's National Praline Day, River Street Sweets, Savannah's Candy Kitchen along with parent companies River Street Sweets and Savannah Candy Kitchen will donate 10 percent of all praline sales to the America's Second Harvest's Kids Cafe.
Abigile Biddle, 9, visiting River Street Sweets with her parents from Charleston eats a praline. On Wednesday's National Praline Day, River Street Sweets, Savannah's Candy Kitchen along with parent companies River Street Sweets and Savannah Candy Kitchen will donate 10 percent of all praline sales to the America's Second Harvest's Kids Cafe.

“Candy makes people very happy. When people step into the store, whether you’re young or old, it's like you're stepping back in time. You’re walking into somebody's home. It's what it all feels like, and I think that's what our candies make people feel like.

“When you come to Savannah, it is an iconic brand and people tend to gravitate and come and see us first.”

Stan Strickland, center, with his children Tim and Jennifer at Savannah's Candy Kitchen in 2014.
Stan Strickland, center, with his children Tim and Jennifer at Savannah's Candy Kitchen in 2014.

For a region that’s most known for its diverse southern cuisine that might primarily dredge up images of mouth-watering barbeque and fried foods, the Strickland family and the River Street Sweets brand have played a part in making Savannah synonymous with gourmet southern sweets.

Still sweet today

Stan Strickland opened Savannah’s Candy Kitchen in 1990 and they have opened several locations with that name since.

Jennifer and Tim Strickland, together with Stan Strickland, opened a franchise company entitled River Street Sweets -Savannah’s Candy Kitchen in 2015 and the franchise business is continuing to grow.

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With eight franchises and seven stores under their belt, the horizon is looking bright. Tim shared that the goal is to open five stores a year in the South for the next decade and expand their restaurant businesses, morphing their candy company into more of a hospitality company. They own six restaurants, with two more on the way. The original River Street Sweets location will also undergo renovations starting in January 2024.

Trinity Nash slides a tray of pralines into the case inside the River Street Sweets location at 32 E. Broughton Street.
Trinity Nash slides a tray of pralines into the case inside the River Street Sweets location at 32 E. Broughton Street.

“It's all about Southern hospitality. It’s about the brand. It's about our mission and what we're trying to provide to our guests that are coming into Savannah.”

Laura Nwogu is the quality of life reporter for Savannah Morning News. Contact her at LNwogu@gannett.com. Twitter: @lauranwogu_

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah's River Street Sweets celebrates 50 years in business