The lights are coming back on at a Willoughby landmark. Jeff Morsfield, a 26-year-old candy maker from Cleveland, is moving his Jeff’s Candy Shop operation into the long-quiet Brandt’s Candies building on Lost Nation Road. He is peeling back the old wood-paneled retail front, scrubbing the original production kitchen, and aiming for an April opening that will feature live candy-making demonstrations. The comeback ties a new small business to a familiar neighborhood fixture and keeps decades-old chocolate-making equipment in service instead of in storage.
Antique Equipment Survived the Auction
When the property went up for an absolute auction on Nov. 20, 2025, the listing said the sale would include the business and the heavy-duty candy-making gear, including a massive mixer, copper kettles, and marble-topped tables. LoopNet shows that the 3,680-square-foot storefront was built in 1948 and went under contract after the auction.
A Lucky Parking-Lot Conversation Turned Into a Lease
Morsfield told News 5 Cleveland that he showed up at the auction but did not have the money to buy the building himself. A brief chat in the parking lot with the winning bidder turned into a deal, and the two sides signed a lease in January. Willoughby officials also approved a $10,000 façade grant to help pay for a new sign and fresh storefront work, the city’s economic development director told the station. “This place is filled with history,” Morsfield said in a video about the space.
From Waterloo to Lost Nation Road
Jeff’s Candy Shop already operates a storefront in the Waterloo Arts District. The shop’s website lists its current location at 16101 Waterloo Road, with weekend hours and a notice that orders are taking several weeks to ship. According to Jeff’s Candy Shop, the Waterloo spot will stay open until the move to Willoughby is complete.
Neighborhood Roots and What It Means
Brandt’s was founded by George and Agnes Brandt in 1948 and later changed hands. Family members told News 5 Cleveland that the Phillips family ran the shop for years before closing it in late 2023, leaving recipes and equipment behind. Locals describe the store as a sentimental stop for generations, and Morsfield says he wants to respect that legacy while introducing live demonstrations and a refreshed menu.
