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By Donna Thoma – donnathoma0@gmail.com
ROSCOMMON– Roscommon local Jessica Becker made a career change earlier this year, and it all began one day at home while making cold process soaps.
Many locals know Becker from her 20 years working as a bank employee and teller with Chemical Bank and TCF Bank, now Huntington Bank. Becker said she had been thinking about what might be next, and the candle shop came along at the perfect time.
While making soap that day, Becker realized she was missing essential oils, so she sent fiancé Mike Saint Onge to the Up North Candle Depot for supplies. Former owner Kurt Kehoe jokingly asked Saint Onge if he wanted to buy the store.
For years, locals and visitors have turned to Up North Candle Depot for handmade candles, soaps, and lotions for themselves or as gifts. Last year, owners Kurt and Monika Kehoe decided to retire and sell the business. Since their lease was ending in December and the Addi-Beth store location was opening, Becker and Saint Onge chose to move the shop to the more central space.
The business is family owned and operated by Becker, Saint Onge, and Becker’s daughter Michaela, who Becker calls their “computer guru.”
Customers will find candles, donkey milk soap, goat milk soap, diffusers, wax melts, lotions, body butters, sugar scrubs, and more. They continue the Kehoes’ tradition of creating custom fragrances and labels for lakes, businesses, baby showers, weddings, and other special occasions. Candles are available with regular or wood wicks.
Candle-making classes are held at least once a month. Participants learn about wax types, melting temperatures, fragrance ratios, wick placement, burning tips, and proper wick trimming. Classes are kept small, so everyone gets personal guidance.
A recent “Sip and Pour” class on April 11 welcomed seven women and one man, each bringing their own beverage while creating fragrant candles to keep or gift.
Becker said the unique layout of the store may allow for a future men’s area or “man cave,” featuring shaving soaps, beard oils, bath salts, shower steamers, and other products geared toward men.
Becker is using the Kehoes’ recipes and said they hope to learn all they can and be as successful as Kurt. Kehoe, meanwhile, seems not quite ready for retirement. He recently helped with a candle-making class and continues to guide Becker and Saint Onge in their new venture.
Up North Candle Depot is located at 709 Lake Street in Roscommon. Current hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
