New owners of Wertz Candies promise to safeguard Lebanon’s 94-year-old legacy

The 94-year legacy of Wertz Candies is safe in the hands of two Lebanon city entrepreneurs who promise to safeguard nearly a century of tradition while evolving the business into what will soon be – they hope – a second century of operations.

“As far as all of the recipes and what’s been sold here since 1931 – that’s all going to stay the same,” 41-year-old Lebanon native Jazzie Battle – known to many as owner of two local businesses, Poncho’s Backyard Grubbin’ and Rome’s Rentals – told LebTown. “But we’re also going to bring some new and exciting things to the table.”

For instance, on Thursday morning they debuted their chocolate-covered Belgian waffles at the 718 Cumberland St. store, Battle said, and “the first batch was almost gone before we could bring them out to the floor.”

That’s what he and his partner – Travis Carroll, also a Lebanon native and local business owner – bring to the table, Battle said: respect for tradition and a flair for innovation.

“I mean, 94 years of business – that’s a huge deal,” Battle said. “And I don’t see why can’t we do another 94 years. My main goal is to make the Wertz brothers and the guests who came through this door proud.

“We want to make it to 100 years – we’re six years away from that. That’s my first goal. But this is bigger than me. It’s not about me. It’s not about Travis. … It takes a community that loves a place like this to keep it going.”

In a statement prepared for LebTown, Battle said Wertz Candies is “about faith, family, community, and legacy — and keeping a piece of Lebanon’s heart alive, one handmade treat at a time.”

“For generations, families have walked through those doors at 718 Cumberland Street, drawn by the smell of warm caramel, fresh-made chocolate, and the feeling of home that lives inside every corner of the store,” he wrote. “Now, a new chapter begins — one rooted in faith, family, and community. … And while the heart of Wertz Candies remains the same, the new leadership is determined to honor the past while embracing the future.”

The Wertz legacy

You would be hard pressed to find someone in Lebanon who isn’t familiar with the Wertz name, which has been synonymous with handmade opera fudge, caramel corn, jelly-filled chocolates and other sweets for nearly a century. But first, a little history, drawn from LebTown story archives and the candy store’s website.

William Howard Wertz was returning to his native Pennsylvania after losing his livelihood in Nebraska in 1930 when he stopped at a Karmelkorn Shop in Illinois and was inspired him to apply for a franchise license. He opened his own Karmelkorn Shop in downtown Lebanon the next year and ran the store until his death in 1960, when son William Jr. and son-in-law L. Saylor Zimmerman Jr. took over.

Read More: Over 90 sweet years: How Wertz Candies became a downtown Lebanon staple

William Jr. later bought his brother-in-law’s share of the business and in 1971 changed the name to Wertz Candies. He retired in 1986, leaving the business to his four children: William Howard, Jean Louise, Richard Alan, and Charles “Chuck” Wellington Wertz. Jean left the business in 2008.

The building itself dates back to the 1700s, when it was used as an inn. In 2006, the shop was featured in an episode of “Dirty Jobs” on the Discovery Channel, and it was twice featured on the Food Channel. Chuck Wertz told LebTown that they’ve had customers visit from all over the world.

In February 2023, the brothers – by then in their 60s and 70s – decided to sell the business. On April 14 of that year, they handed the keys to Rob and Lindsay Wertz who, despite their last name, weren’t related. The couple, who jointly own three orthodontics practices in Lebanon, Robesonia, and Hegins, have been lifelong customers of the candy store and said they had joked about buying it someday and decided to take the plunge when they learned that it was for sale.

The couple said at the time they planned to expand the online side of business but otherwise did not intend to make many changes.

Sold again

On Oct. 1, Rob and Lindsay Wertz announced on social media that the business had been sold.

“It is with a bittersweet heart that today we will be selling the candy store,” they wrote. “This was not an easy decision but with a progressive and unique opportunity in our primary business and my passion for adopting special needs dogs, it simply became a decision about time management for us. If only there were more hours in a day! We have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of learning the candy business, interacting with loyal customers and more importantly carrying on the legacy of Wertz Candies!

“An important factor in selling to us was finding someone who has full intentions of keeping that legacy going and we were able to do just that! The new owners have a background in food service and are eager to not only carry on Wertz Candies but improve it as well! Although we will miss so many aspects of the candy store, we believe you will be in good hands moving forward and operations will continue as normal with no interruptions! Thank you all for the immense support over the last two and a half years, it is something we will always remember and always be grateful for!”

The couple did not respond to requests for comment on the sale. And, although the business continued to operate, the new owners were not immediately revealed.

Until Battle stepped forward to identify himself and Carroll – and their wives, Missy and Amanda – as the new owners.

Back in 2023, Battle said, he made an offer for the business “but it didn’t go through.” He said he has known Lindsay Wertz for many years, and “I told her, if you ever decide to sell, give me a shout. And that’s what happened. It was never on the market, it just came about through networking.”

Under new management

Battle said he read a 2023 LebTown article about the Wertz brothers decision to sell the business – and their concern that their legacy be maintained. He said he found the notion particularly touching, given his commitment to preserve his own family legacies through his other businesses, Poncho’s Backyard Grubbin’ and Rome’s Rentals, which honor his grandfathers.

Read More: ‘Sell your bike and chase your dream’: Man’s journey to become business owner

“I have a story to tell in my life, a very cool story. Trials and tribulations,” he said. “And when I read that article, I thought how great would that be? Maybe if I could accomplish these things, maybe I could have somebody live on my legacy someday, talk about me when I’m gone. … It’s something personal. Everybody has a story to tell.

“When I read that, when the Wertz brothers were selling, I told my wife, let’s give this a shot. We’re already in the food business – savory food, how about a slot for desserts? … We didn’t get in then, but that gave us time to bring in Travis and Amanda. Travis, he’s on the same page with me. We met each other on a job one day and talked business. Now we’re lifting each other’s families and living on another family’s legacy.”

One of the brothers, Richard Wertz, has already been in touch and has offered to lend the new owners a hand, Battle said. And Willow White, a candymaker who has worked at the shop for 30 years, will continue lending her expertise as well, he said. “She’s part of this place.”

Battle said customers can expect to see new ideas take shape at the store, but not at the expense of old favorites.

“For a business to survive, it has to change. But not the recipes – we’re not touching that,” he said. “It’s one step at a time. We’re learning the business. We’re learning what the guests love, why they keep coming back. … I love food, man. So I’m in the right place to make things happen.”

For example, he said, he’s in “talks” to combine his Poncho’s expertise with his Wertz creations in a new “sweet treats truck” venture.

“Stay tuned,” Battle said. “Bring your children in. Get a free sample. We have a lot of new things coming that I’m pretty sure the public will be excited about.”

At the end of the day, he said, it’s “a small, family-friendly candy store,” and that’s what it will remain.

By the way…

What’s Battle’s favorite Wertz Candies delicacy? That’s easy.

“The caramel popcorn, for sure,” he said.

No, wait.

“The opera fudge, definitely,” he said.

He laughed.

“I love sweets.”