MONTEREY HOUSE CANDY – YOUR CHILDHOOD FAVORITE, THEN AND NOW

It was my family’s old candy shop that supplied the original Monterey House candy. It wasn’t until 2012 that I became aware of the legacy our candy had in the Houston, TX area. Prior to that year I had no idea how big of a deal our candy was to so many people, for so many years. My father, now 83 years old wasn’t the first candy maker in the family though. It goes farther back in generations.

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

A gentleman born in 1878 named Pilar was a Master candy maker who owned a candy shop in Monterrey, Mexico. Pilar immigrated to Houston, Texas where he opened another candy shop, La Colmena. One of Pilar’s daughters named Maria married a man by the name Ignacio.

Ignacio began working with his father-in-law Pilar in the candy shop in Houston. Ignacio and Maria had many children. One of those children was Jesse, who was born into the family business. As a child, Jesse worked at the candy shop along with several of his siblings and relatives. Jesse was the last owner of La Colmena when the candy company closed its doors in the 1970s.

100 years after the original candy maker Pilar was born, his great-granddaughter was born. I am that great-granddaughter, Gina. My father is Jesse.

 

MONTEREY HOUSE CANDY LEGACY 1955-1970's

The legendary candy that was sold in the Houston area between the 1950’s – 1970’s was hand-made by Jesse Bocanegra, his father Ignacio, and grandfather Pilar.

Most people remember the candy from Monterey House, Felix Mexican Restaurants, Molinas, Leo’s, Santa Anita, and many others.

Houstonians from the 1950s-1970s have vivid memories of the old Monterey House candy. In those days, Monterey House hid pieces of candy wrapped in wax paper in the bottom of the chip baskets. Grown women and men have approached us in tears, wanting hugs, pouring their hearts out, and telling us all their childhood memories. The candy is nostalgic and truly unforgettable.

In the few years prior to my father closing La Colmena in the 1970s, the business had a few struggles. Some family members moved on and needed out of the business. Jesse, his wife, and children also suffered major trials, including the tragic death of their oldest son.

The family’s heartache and making the difficult decision to close the candy business all happened shortly before I was born.

BETWEEN THEN AND NOW (1978 – 2012)

My entire life, the week before Christmas, my father would turn the house into a mini candy-making factory. Whoever was around during that time would help him with whatever he needed. It could be preparing the tables and holding containers, sorting pecans, peeling candy off wax paper, packaging. You name it, we did it.

During Christmastime candy-making at home, I was told bits and pieces of how the old candy shop functioned. I also knew candy was delivered to restaurants back in those days. Aside from that, our extended family, friends, and acquaintances all LOVED the candy. Many of them would beg my father to make extra candy to sell to them. Growing up, my father would not sell his candy to anyone for Christmas or at any other time. All candy was a gift.

That was the extent to my knowledge of La Colmena. I had no idea there was this huge legacy outside of our circle of family and friends!

2012 – MONTEREY HOUSE CANDY RESURFACES

In the summer of 2012, I felt God speak to my heart about the candy. It was consistent, subtle, yet crystal clear. God told me, “Your family has a gift, you need to do something with it. You’re about to lose the gift.” Immediately, I knew what God meant. My father was aging and when he passes away, the traditional family recipes of La Colmena would be lost forever. It would be gone. You see, while our immediate family knew the very basics of candy making, nobody really knew “how” to make it. There was urgency. At that time, dad was 75 years old.

I knew talking to my father about making candy for sale wasn’t going to be easy. For 3 months I prayed about what God was speaking to me. I would need to have the right words to say to my father. Once I was ready and confident, I met with my parents. Surprisingly, the meeting went very well and dad agreed to teach me the finer details of the candy-making process.

A few weeks later we had our first batch of candy available for sale in November 2012.

HOW I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE MONTEREY HOUSE CANDY LEGACY

Small pieces of candy from that first 2012 batch caught people’s eye. A lady I was speaking to noticed the candy in a small bag that I held in my hand. When this lady saw the candy, she knew exactly what it was, and excitedly, she asked me about it.

“Where did you get that from? That looks like the old Monterey House candy? How did you find that?”

This took me by surprise. I never imagined that someone would recognize the candy. My response was, “Oh, my dad used to have a candy shop before I was born. I know he did sell to a restaurant named Monterey House.”

Before I could finish responding, the lady was ecstatic and said, “Oh my God, I’ve been looking for your candy for so long! The Monterey House candy was made by your family!?”

The same exact scenario and conversation played out with a different person 3 three weeks later. That’s when I knew it wasn’t a coincidence. So I decided to google my family’s candy. It was completely shocking to find that people were looking for the candy I grew up with my entire life.

WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN 2012 – 2016

Between the Fall of 2012 – Fall of 2014, La Colmena Mexican candy operated part-time as I continued to work full-time at my regular job. The plan was to move into full-time candy production in September 2014 when I resigned to focus on the candy business. However, that came to an immediate halt as my mother became very ill right at the same time.

We continued to operate part-time in between mom’s hospital stays, rehabilitation, and severe illness. It was a constant whirlwind and it was very stressful.

With the help of my daughter and my father, I expected to care for my mother until she became well. I looked forward to the day that my parents could see the candy business move into full-time production and grow exponentially. However, that did not happen. Mama passed away in January of 2016.

2016 – A PAINFUL YEAR

The day after my mother’s funeral in January 2016, I suddenly began having severe pain. In short, I spent 2016 seeing specialists, in physical therapy and on medication. I had a large herniated disc in my back that healed very slowly. It was the most horrible physical pain I have ever experienced in my life.

During that year La Colmena Mexican candy had a few batches available. My daughter Ava, being the amazing person she is, helped me tremendously.

In December of 2016, I felt well enough to start selling our candy directly to customers at local Farmers Markets. At this time, Ava was a senior in high school. The plan was to continue this route until she graduated. Then we would move into operating as a full-time commercial business so that we could begin selling to restaurants and stores.

2017 – 2018 HURRICANE HARVEY AND CANCER

A few other personal challenges delayed us making the change to a commercial business after Ava graduated in May 2017. However, we continued to sell our candy at local farmer’s markets.

Then, in August 2017, Hurricane Harvey flooded our home. Like so many, we lost everything and did not have flood insurance. We were devastated.

My family spent the next year separated from each other. With help from relatives and friends, we cleaned up and sought assistance from organizations with access to funds raised for Hurricane Harvey repairs.

Then, we had another challenge while still displaced from our home. In May 2018, my father was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins lymphoma, cancer. So now, in addition to home repairs, blood work, scans, doctor’s visits and chemotherapy were the focus for the next few months.

My father completed his course of chemotherapy the same week our home was livable again in September 2018. He was looking forward to going home to his girls again. Especially his new great-granddaughter, Ava’s newborn baby, Aleida. At that time we hoped to return to the candy business within a year.

2019 – 2020 DEALING WITH DEMENTIA

The day my father came back home we noticed his behavior was different. Over the next few months, I noticed his communication and reasoning skills had declined. This is when I knew he needed to be evaluated by a doctor. Dad was diagnosed with early dementia in March 2019.

The rest of 2019 and early 2020 was an intense transition period for our family. We were dealing with the early stages of dementia and all the daily challenges that go along with it.

We briefly considered moving my father into assisted living during this time, but deep down we knew he wasn’t ready for that. It just wasn’t time to make that change. Had we decided against what we knew was right and moved him to assisted living anyway, he would’ve been quarantined for 6+ months. He would’ve been heartbroken to be isolated away from his family during Covid-19.

HINDSIGHT IS 2020

Looking back I can see that God, in His providence, spoke to me about our family’s gift just in time. It took me over a year to learn the fine details of candy making. 2012 was the last year my father’s memory and cognitive abilities were well enough that he could teach me what I needed to know about candy making. It was also the last year that was “calm” without any major trials.

God has been teaching us perseverance, the value of family, and guiding us each step of the way.

WHERE ARE WE NOW IN 2020 – COVID 19

We are in the same place most people are in 2020. Trying to maneuver through this pandemic. In addition to that my father has had multiple medical issues unrelated to dementia. A few months ago he was discharged from the hospital wearing a Zoll Lifevest, a catheter, and orders for physical and speech therapies.

My daughter Ava is a junior at the University of Houston. I am my father’s caretaker around the clock.

WHAT’S AHEAD

Early next year we will be responding to and considering private investors. We have not forgotten all of our wonderful customers nor our delicious candy.

We fully believe in God’s timing. Over the last 6 years, perseverance has been at work and our faith has been tested time and time again. However, we rest in God, knowing that He is in control. He knows our hearts and our willingness to pursue what He has given us when it’s time.