A note from Maria

For 15 years I built a career in Corporate America, and while I was good at it, something was always missing. In February I stepped away to finally pursue the creative life I had been quietly craving and to spend more time with my kids. The Small Business Edit was born out of my deep belief that small businesses are the backbone of communities like ours, and that the people behind them have stories worth telling. This series is my way of honoring those stories, one business at a time.


What inspired you to open

I was inspired to open the candle shop in 2020 while going through infertility. John (her husband) and I would plan little weekend trips away to keep distracted, and on one of our weekend trips to Wisconsin, we discovered a pour-your-own candle shop. We each made a candle and even held a contest of who made the superior one. When we got home that Sunday night, we lit John’s candle, which was actually a really great blend of cedar + fig + hazelnut. I’ll never forget that Monday morning, leaving the house for work and catching the lingering fragrance of the candle in the air…it made me smile and was the sweetest reminder that good things are on the horizon. I found custom candle making so relaxing and fun; an amazing creative outlet and a way to make memories with your people. At the time, I was a social worker in maternal-fetal medicine and felt inspired to start my own candle company to share this joy and creative outlet with others. John and I drove to downtown Frankfort, which isn’t far from our home, to see if there were any vacancies available. That’s when we saw the old bank building vacant and did a bunch of research, and after 2-plus years, we opened our doors. 


What is the meaning behind your store's name?

The meaning behind our name “The Candle Vault” is an ode to our historic space.  Our space was Frankfort's very first bank circa 1885 and is a historic landmark in town. Inside, you will find not one but two original bank vaults. Our space has been historically preserved, featuring the original door, front window, tin ceiling and tile floor. We even have the original bank teller's cage displayed inside; it’s on loan to us from the Frankfort Historical Society. 

A woman and young girl smile together at the window of The Candle Vault shop.
Smiling brunette woman in white v-neck top and jeans leaning on granite kitchen counter with green walls.
A woman in a green apron prepares drinks at a stylish cafe counter with hanging mugs and green walls.
Smiling woman in green apron working at a marble kitchen counter with dark mugs hanging on a pegboard wall.
A smiling woman in an apron prepares food at a marble kitchen counter with hanging pots and green walls.
Smiling brunette woman in white t-shirt and jeans leaning on granite kitchen counter in modern green kitchen.
Smiling woman in white t-shirt and jeans sitting on kitchen counter with green cabinets in background.
Smiling brunette woman in white v-neck top and jeans leaning on granite kitchen counter with green walls.

What do you want people to feel when they walk in your store?  

When people walk into The Candle Vault, first and foremost, I want them to feel like family. It’s very important to me that every person who walks in the door feels welcome and at home. We strive to create an atmosphere that feels comfortable yet historic, with an element of mystery. The candle vault isn’t like walking into your typical store. On one side, you have the wall of sample scents; on the other side, a bar; then mix in the vault and some retail displays of pre-made candles. We love when new customers walk in the door, explaining who we are and what we do here- it’s definitely a unique, creative, and interactive experience! 

Antique heavy metal bank vault door with brass wheel lock mechanism and ornate wooden frame.
Wooden shelves displaying woodsy and earthy scented candles with gold lids on a sage green wall with a brass lamp.
Multiple black and gray aprons labeled 'The Candy Vault' hanging on a wooden wall-mounted coat rack.
Woman in apron pouring wax into a candle vessel at The Candle Van workshop counter.
Woman in apron filling a metal container at a dispenser in a shop with shelved bottles in background.
Woman in candle vault apron smelling a wooden wick while crafting candles in a boutique candle shop.
Woman in apron pouring hot water from kettle into green candle jar on marble countertop in kitchen.
Smiling woman in green apron crafting candles at a marble counter in a stylish kitchen workshop.
Woman in sage green apron carefully placing a wick into a dark green textured glass candle jar on a silver tray.
Woman in candle room apron writing on paper at granite counter with black marker.
Hands with jewelry opening a metal pipe faucet valve over a steel pot to collect dark liquid.
Woman in green apron making a candle, stirring wax in a green textured glass jar on a granite countertop.
Woman and young girl posing in front of The Candle Vault store, smiling outdoors on a sunny day.
A woman and young red-haired girl in denim overalls smile together at a kitchen counter indoors.
A woman holding a young girl smiles in front of The Candle Vault shop window in a charming downtown storefront.

What is something you wish you knew before opening?

I wish I had known just how many hats I would be wearing to make my business go around. As a former type A personality, I learned quickly that I would need to rely on assistance from others to make our experience top-notch. It was hard for me to relinquish control of every little thing, but so necessary. And we have built a really wonderful and strong team, which I am so grateful for.  I also didn’t know that I would be a full-time social media manager 

 

What advice would you give someone who wants to start a small business?

I would absolutely say follow your heart and go for it! I believe that nothing beats hard work and being kind to people. Hard work and kindness are truly what The Candle Vault was built on and, to this day, our driving factors! My mom always loved the quote from Rocky that goes something along the lines of it’s not about how many times you get knocked down; it’s about how many times you get back up and keep moving forward, and that is a quote that I hold near and dear. 


My grandpa and dad owned a small business, an auto parts store on Parnell Ave in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood. I feel like small business is in my blood. and I hope that I’m making my family proud.


The Candle Vault is located at 114 Kansas St, Frankfort, IL 60423

Shop their collection and book a spot to make your own candle online at TheCandleVault.com, and follow along @Thecandlevault on Instagram.



Photography by Maria Klovens — mariaklovensphotography.com


PS Fun Fact: Alex and I have known each other since we were three years old, we played softball together and went to the same high school! Our Grandfathers grew up in the same neighborhood!