Farewell to the Candy Man. Shop founder John Snook made Folsom a much sweeter place
John Snook was a husband for 63 years, a father of six and a successful businessman. His main legacy, though, is that he made Folsom a sweeter place.
The charismatic founder of Snooks Candies & Chocolate Factory died peacefully, surrounded by his family, at 90 years old on June 21.
If ever there was a business built for Historic Folsom, it was Snooks. The confectionery at 731 Sutter St. feels like it’s from a different era, serving housemade items such as caramels, truffles and peanut brittle along with Gunther’s Ice Cream and fruit freezes, a far cry from kitschier competitors in Old Sacramento.
The Folsom Gold milk chocolate bar is a store-specific highlight, perfectly sized for s’mores and stamped with Snooks’ swooping logo. It’s the sign of a beloved brand, one that’s endured for 60 years thanks to Folsom’s community support.
Born in Three Rivers, Michigan, John Snook was stationed at Mather Air Force Base when he met a Sacramento girl named Jeannine. The two married in 1954 and opened their first candy shop, Country Candies, in 1963 in what was then the Arden Fair Food Circus.
All six of John and Jeanine’s children were given names starting with “J,” and all worked at the candy shop (along with some of his 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren), which became Snooks Candies in 1980. The family opened a Tahoe City store in 1981 and moved the original Snooks to Historic Folsom in 1985.
John and Jeanine sold their stake in Snooks to their son Jim and daughter-in-law Renee in 1999, but the original “Candy Man” was a consistent presence around the store., chatting with customers outside or running errands as needed.
“John was a man who loved life and never stopped enjoying it,” his family wrote in his obituary.
A celebration of Snook’s life will be held at 10:30 a.m. July 13th at St Joseph Morello Church in Granite Bay.
What I’m Eating
Head to Rosemont — to Pine Tree House, specifically — for classic Korean comforts. Opened in 2008 at 9205 Folsom Blvd., Suite D, it’s an understated spot for traditional stews, grilled meat and bibimbap in a strip of Korean restaurants on the outskirts of Sacramento.
Each meal at Pine Tree House begins with a dozen banchan — complementary side dishes such as kimchi, macaroni salad and egg custard to nibble on while heartier items are being prepared. Appetizers are available on top of that, such as bindae-tteok, a thick, crispy mung bean pancake ($22 for four).
Then it’s on to mains such as grilled atka fish ($23, or $29 with an excellent bean paste soup loaded with umami). Also known as mackerel or godeungeo-gui, the salty fish is served with its fins still on
Pine Tree lacks the tabletop grills and all-you-can-eat options of some Korean barbecue destinations, but the kitchen makes a mean kalbi beef ($34, or $37 with a cold, slippery noodle dish called mul-naengmyeon). The barbecued short ribs are thick and juicy, and coated in just enough sweet/spicy sauce to highlight without smothering.
Pine Tree House
Address: 9205 Folsom Blvd., Suite D, Sacramento.
Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. seven days a week.
Phone number: (916) 366-3323.
Website: None.
Drinks: Soft drinks, beer and Korean drinks such as bokbunja-ju and baekse-ju with the alcohol content of wine.
Animal-free options: Several.
Noise level: Typically quiet, aside from recorded piano playing in the background.
Openings & Closings
Bay Area-based Teaspoon opened its fourth cafe in greater Sacramento on Friday in the El Dorado Hills Town Center. It’s known for boba drinks but also has sweets such as cakes, cookies and brownies.
Last Stop Saloon began its soft opening Tuesday at 916 Second St. in Old Sacramento, per the Sacramento Business Journal. The replacement for River City Saloon, it’s owned by Scott Manley, a former bartender and manager at Gold Cane Cocktail Lounge in San Francisco.
Bones Craft Kitchen won’t reopen after founder Chris Jarosz’s death in May, the Davis Enterprise reported. Jarosz, who also co-owned Broderick Roadhouse and Anonimo Pizza in Sacramento, opened his burger joint a year ago at 113 D St. in Davis.
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