OUR STORY

Lil and Ed bought Mary Sanders Candy Store and renamed it Liled’s Candy Kitchen

1957

James Holland and Jose Chavez become the newest owners of Liled’s Candy Kitchen

2021

Liled’s celebrates 90 years of crafting sweet memories made over handmade confections

Timeline 90th Anniversary
1937

Liled’s Candy Kitchen was moved to its current location

2021

Previous owners and new owners are presented with certifications of recognition by the Vallejo Mayor

2026
Black and white image of Lil and Ed cutting a celebratory cake next to a box of Liled's chocolates.

It all started with a classic love story...

Button label

When Lilian Steinbuch caught a glimpse of Eilif "Ed" Jensen, something clicked — and before long, the two had built a life and a candy kitchen together. Ed was a master chocolatier and a skilled craftsman; you can still see his handiwork in the rosemaling designs painted on the store's beams.

Together, they built a candy kitchen where people gathered, where memories got made, and where a simple piece of chocolate could become a sweet memory you could cherish forever.

Discovering something special...

In 2021, James Holland found Liled's the way good things usually find you: by accident.

He was searching for a commercial kitchen to launch a freeze-dried candy venture when he stumbled across a historic shop for sale in Vallejo. He stopped in, tried the mint fluff, and took home a pecan roll. And that was about all it took.

"I realized this place was something special. The pecan roll sat on my kitchen table, and I sliced a piece off every day with dinner. That's what convinced me I wanted to be part of this business."

James grew up enchanted by candy-making. A childhood visit to a local candy factory had planted the seed early and Liled's was there when it was finally ready to take root.

James, the owner of Liled's, stands in front of the colorful Liled's storefront with window decorations reading 'Liled's Ice Cream Candy' and 'Liled's 90th Anniversary.' The building has a yellow facade, a purple sign above, and windows displaying ice cream and chocolate flavors.

Preserving the classics & building on legacy

His philosophy since taking over has been simple: preserve what's sacred, and earn the right to add something new. The original caramel and pecan roll recipes haven't changed. But James has added his own creation to the lineup: the strawberry cheesecake meltaway, built on the bones of the classic mint fluff, layered with white chocolate, freeze-dried strawberries, graham cracker, and milk chocolate.

A young child with dark hair smiling while holding a spoonful of chocolate ice cream, wearing a light purple t-shirt with a cartoon graphic. Another person in a yellow shirt is blurred in the background.

90 years of memories

Longtime customers come in and bring their kids to the same counter their own parents brought them to. Staff members who grew up eating these chocolates with their grandparents now make them by hand. The windows are always seasonally painted by local artists. And local organizations partner with Liled's for events, fundraisers, and the kind of small moments that quietly hold a neighborhood together.

Nearly 90 years of birthdays, anniversaries, first dates, and lazy Sunday afternoons. Whatever brings you through the door, we'll be thrilled to share the moment with you.

Meet the Team

  • A smiling man with a beard and slicked-back hair wearing a purple t-shirt with 'Liled's Candy Shop' printed in white script, standing in front of shelves filled with colorful packaged snacks.

    James

  • Kanami

  • Jahzion

  • Catherine

  • Alberto

  • Rodney

Treat Yourself with Liled's

  • Assorted Chocolate

    From $20.00 USD
    From $20.00 USD
    Assorted Chocolate

  • Assorted Nuts and Chews

    From $19.95 USD
    From $19.95 USD
    Assorted Nuts and Chews

  • Brittle

    From $16.95 USD
    From $16.95 USD
    Brittle

  • Soft Centers - Assorted

    From $19.95 USD
    From $19.95 USD
    Soft Centers - Assorted
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