Andy Karandzieff comes by his sweet tooth naturally—it’s part of the family business, after all. In 1913, his grandfather, Harry Karandzieff, opened Crown Candy Kitchen with his best friend, Pete Jugaloff. And ever since, the confectionery and diner has been a staple in North St. Louis, earning generations of loyal customers thanks to its sweet treats, classic menu and soda fountain favorites. Karandzieff is proud to continue the tradition and build upon the legacy established by his father and grandfather.
Growing up, Karandzieff was, well, a kid in a candy shop. “When I was little, I just got to run amok,” he recalls. “Hanging out in the shop, there was ice cream and candy—what more could you ask for?” Around the age 13, he was given his first job at Crown Candy Kitchen: working the soda fountain. He then moved on to helping make Easter candy. “That was the start of my career,” he says. “It was cool. I learned a lot at an early age, and I met so many interesting people.”
Karandzieff did consider other career options outside of Crown Candy Kitchen. However, while attending community college, he was uncertain of what path to take and opted to return to the family business. “I was 19 and didn’t know better, so I figured I could do what I knew and not have to work too hard,” he notes. “Forty-eight years of working 12-hour days later, I know better now, but I not only survived, I thrived. I wouldn’t change a thing. Crown Candy Kitchen is my family’s legacy. It’s 113 years of us being on this corner in this community.”
Taking over a business that had served generations of St. Louisans came with unique pressures. Karandzieff had to work hard to ensure the experience and quality remained the same. “We joke that change is a bad thing,” he says. “You always want to be consistent. People have grown up with Crown Candy Kitchen—they want the chocolate malts to taste the same as they did 30 years ago.” The menu at the diner and soda fountain is full of nostalgic comfort food. Karandzieff’s favorites? “The reuben is my go-to sandwich. If it’s ice cream, I’m going with black cherry with fudge, and for candy, dark chocolate anything.”
While Crown Candy Kitchen is like a blast from the past, Karandzieff has had to evolve the business. The world does not operate the same way it did in 1913, and striking a balance between maintaining the familiar and innovating has been one of his biggest challenges. “I won’t take credit for it; my wife, Sherri, is really responsible for bringing us into the 21st century,” he notes. “She really expanded our online presence and social media to get the word out and keep people thinking of us. We’re more modern than the restaurant my grandfather opened, but a lot of the day-to-day stuff is the same as it was in the beginning.”
Recently, Karandzieff was named Restaurateur of the Year by the Greater St. Louis Restaurant Association. The honor was a surprise. “It’s pretty amazing to get that kind of recognition because there are so many great local and family-owned restaurants,” he says. “I’ll happily claim the title, but a lot of people help me be that person. Our employees are the face of Crown Candy Kitchen, representing us every day. My late father and brother, Mike, were both great mentors and teachers—they taught me everything. Even my grandfather, who I didn’t know. It’s our legacy, and I thank all of them.”
Looking to the future, Karandzieff is hopeful that Crown Candy Kitchen’s legacy will continue. Just like he did in his youth, Karandzieff’s niece, Maddie, has been working in the restaurant since she was a teenager, and he’s hopeful she’ll become the fourth generation to lead the family business. “I hope in 30 years, my niece is talking to someone about the exact same thing—she’ll be a wonderful representative for our family,” he says. “There’s a sense of responsibility that comes with keeping this place open and running. Not just for our family and employees, but the community. The perception of North St. Louis has taken a bit of a beating, but we want to be a bright light. We may not be fancy, but we give people good sandwiches, good ice cream and good chocolate.”
Photos by Bill Barrett
