Three generations of candy making continue at James J. Chocolate Shop on Madison’s Near West Side. The store, 3514 Monroe St., offers an assortment of sweet confections that date back to the early days of the last century.

Owner James Jarnigo said he learned the craft by working in his family’s store.

“I started with my uncle, which is Bill Niemann of Niemann Chocolate in Wauwatosa,” Jarnigo said. “His father started in 1919. So through junior high and high school and the UW-Milwaukee, I worked there and learned the business that way.”

James J. Chocolate was originally at 2510 Old University Ave., but a fire in 2005 forced the business to close. Now, with the Monroe Street shop and a large production facility in Lake Mills, Jarnigo said his business is back in full swing.

“It’s 10,000 square feet with retail out in front. It’s a dream kitchen for me,” he said. “We do Internet, mail order. We also do a lot of corporate gift-giving. We’ll make special molds and special bars with company logos on them. So that’s a nice little niche.”

Jarnigo said his company produces about 2,000 corporate gift boxes during the holiday season. Another 400 or so go out to individual customers.

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