The chocolate “daylight factory” (named so for its oversized windows that allowed for ample light onto the factory floor) at Canal and Claiborne supplied chocolate to over 1500 stores across the nation. In 1925, the factory was adapted to also start making ice cream. The building was mostly demolished in 1931; a small part remained and served as a car dealership. The lot is empty today.
In 1900, Irvin Fuerst teamed up with Albert Kraemer to establish Fuerst and Kraemer, a candy and sweets company. Two years later, on July 9, 1902, they opened their first confectionary parlor at 828 Canal St., featuring ice cream, cakes, candies, and a soda fountain. Five years later, they opened another location on Baronne St.
As success continued, more locations were added. In 1910, they bought a building at 433 Bourbon St. to make their candy, and in 1914, they opened a location on the Atlantic City boardwalk. In 1917, to accommodate growing demand, they leased a vacant brewery and converted it into a chocolate factory.
A business partnership with United Retail Candy of NYC helped expand the brand. Fuerst became a president for United and moved to New York, while Kraemer – known to many New Orleans youngsters as Uncle Al thanks to his gregarious nature and habit of playing Santa Claus at holiday events – stayed to oversee Fuerst and Kraemer as it continued to thrive.
By 1921, they had one of the largest candy companies in the South and were opening their fifth store at 312 Carondelet St. Designed to look like a Parisian tea room, it was decorated in ivory and azure blue, featuring a 20-foot fountain and staff in French maid uniforms.
In 1925, another store opened at 928 Canal St. The bottom floor was a luncheonette and soda counter (and providing “a cozy corner for flappers” to canoodle); upstairs was the Happiness Tea Room, a refined and elaborate 5th Avenue style space that became an immediate hit with locals and tourists alike.
In 1927, they had 6 thriving stores, but despite their continued successes, the following year, in April 1928, the Fuerst and Kraemer name abruptly came to an end. Al Kraemer was elected VP of Happiness Candy Stores, Inc. and announced that all the stores would now be known as “Happiness Stores.”
While the name is gone, their contributions linger. Credited with creating nectar soda, they sold the formula to K&B, who made sure generations of New Orleanians could enjoy it.
