Willoughby Candy Cloud location is the first in Ohio

May 8—The leap of faith that Rick and Clarissa Standing decided to take last year has led them to become the first franchise owners of Candy Cloud in Ohio.

Located at 36299 Euclid Ave. in Willoughby, Candy Cloud features canned-to-order specialty coffee, tea and lemonade drinks, as well as customizable shakes. Boba (tapioca pearls) can also be added to the items on the menu.

Additionally, on a monthly basis, the business features a collection of themed drinks, including a mint cookies n' cream shake, a baklava shaken espresso and matcha marshmallow charm ube, a sweet, purple yam that's become a staple dessert ingredient in the Philippines.

The Willoughby location marks the fourth Candy Cloud location with the other three located in Illinois. It was roughly two years ago when owners Alex and Paityn Edwards came to the decision to franchise, which was shortly after opening their Rockford, Ill., location.

When the Standings talked about owning a business, it piqued their interest, Clarissa said.

"He's (Rick) a veteran and we found an organization called Veteranpreneur, a veteran coach who helps identify what would be the best-fitting franchise for your life," she recalled. "Since we weren't creative enough to invent anything, we figured we'd copy whatever someone had invented."

In talking to Veteranpreneur, the Standings discussed their history, leadership styles and considered incorporating their family into their business venture.

"That was big for us," Clarissa said. "We have five kids and we wanted something they could participate in, and eventually be proud of. We looked at a few different ones. Initially, we said no food and beverage whatsoever. We narrowed it down to three or four different ones. None of them really excited us, so we're like well maybe if we look at something with a limited menu."

As a result, Candy Cloud was brought to the Standings. At the time, only the Rockford location was open and the Edwards had just started franchising, Clarissa said.

"We made a trip to Illinois," she said.

After trying the drinks, the Standings developed a love for them and the Candy Cloud concept.

"We were really sold," Rick said. "It was a great opportunity to be one of the first investors. It was a big risk, but we definitely saw the potential in the company and the owners. We decided to take a leap of faith and we were officially the second franchise open, and the third store. We're the only one outside of Illinois so far. It feels great."

Since being open for the last two months, the response from the community has been awesome, Rick said.

"The first three weeks, we had a line out the door every single day," he said. "Clarissa and I had to work from open to close because we were understaffed. Neither of us worked in the food industry since we were teenagers, so we really didn't know what we were getting ourselves into."

Although a challenge initially, investing into Candy Cloud has felt amazing and has led to other people interested in buying the franchise reach out, Rick said.

"There's people across the United States reaching out to us weekly, so it's been great dealing with people all over," he said. "We're still as excited as we were before we signed."

The Standings began with 15 employees; they are now up to 21. According to Clarissa, one of Rick's biggest goals with Candy Cloud is to have an effect in the Willoughby community.

"Rick always said, 'I want to help people and I want to mentor,' " she said. "We're dealing with employees who tend to be younger, so he wants to have that impact. We both do, but that's a passion of his — to develop people and mentor people. He's done a phenomenal job with it."

Prior to becoming a Candy Cloud, the space used to be a tanning and hair salon.

"I ended up doing all of the demolition in here back in October or November, we got the keys and then in January, we started to build," Rick said. "At the end, I sat, looked at the finished product and cried. This is something I would have never done in my lifetime. I deal with PTSD and depression, and I've always isolated myself because of it. I really enjoy coming in and talking to new people."

According to Rick, the Willoughby location's customer base is a good mix. In the morning, the business will see a bit of the older crowd and then after school lets alone, young adults walk through the doors.

"One of the great things about being here in Willoughby is the excitement of something new, trendy and a cool, safe hangout to talk, listen to music and enjoy the drinks," Rick said. "I think it is very welcoming, so I would hope they feel welcome and comfortable."

Between all of Candy Cloud's drink offerings, the popularity seems to be balanced, Rick said. The business also gets a lot of coffee orders at night.

"With the revivers, it's plant-based caffeine, so a lot of people like that in place of an energy drink," Clarissa said. "It's all natural. We juice our lemons here, we make our own simple syrup and our own horchata. Everything is made fresh daily."

Clarissa has expressed the business venture has brought her and Rick together as a couple.

"We are complete opposites, but still complimentary to each other," she said. "We've gotten feedback from a lot of people who came in, saying, 'Willoughby needed a place like this.' "

Current hours are Mondays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

"We are talking about opening another one in Ohio and potentially out of state," Rick said. "We're also hoping to have some food options."