Owner Sharon Kirsner inside the Zazoli Sweets shop. (Mike Platania)
A new shop is looking to add some more sweetness to the Libbie-Grove retail corridor.
Zazoli Sweets opened earlier this year at 308-B Libbie Ave., a couple doors down from Gearharts Fine Chocolates.
Owner Sharon Kirsner opened the shop with inspiration from both her childhood in Europe and professional career in law.
Born into a U.S. Army family, Kirsner grew up in Germany and Holland, often going to candy shops in those countries that sold in bulk. After graduating from VCU and law school at George Mason University, she worked at Hunton & Williams and as a corporate lawyer for MeadWestvaco.
Just before the merger that would turn MWV into WestRock, Kirsner left to start her own practice.
“I just realized I never really liked (being a lawyer),” she said. “There’s that saying that nobody’s ever happy when they call a lawyer.”
After closing her practice, she would often spend time at Cafe Caturra (now Caturra on Grove) with her three kids who go to school in the area. She said she began noticing kids hanging out around the area, going into the nearby Starbucks, Boyer’s Ice Cream and Libbie Market.
“I realized there was no candy shop like the ones I went to as a kid in Holland with all the different kinds of candy, with more than just Jelly Belly and M&M’s,” Kirsner said.
Thus Zazoli Sweets was born, opening in March with a variety of packaged treats and bulk candy in containers.
Zazoli opened in March at 308-B Libbie Ave. (Mike Platania)
Kirsner said she buys most of Zazoli’s products from a supplier in Sweden, and carries sugar- and gluten-free candy as well.
The shop is named for the first letters of Kirsner’s kids: Zach, Zoe and Ali.
Zazoli is leasing the 1,200-square-foot space, which was formerly a part of Hampton House gift shop and a bridal shop. Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer’s Michael Shaia represented the landlord in lease negotiations.
After trading the boardroom for the candy shop, Kirsner said life is much sweeter.
“It’s so much better,” she said, laughing. “It’s not only that it’s my own thing, but people are happy to be in here.”
Owner Sharon Kirsner inside the Zazoli Sweets shop. (Mike Platania)
A new shop is looking to add some more sweetness to the Libbie-Grove retail corridor.
Zazoli Sweets opened earlier this year at 308-B Libbie Ave., a couple doors down from Gearharts Fine Chocolates.
Owner Sharon Kirsner opened the shop with inspiration from both her childhood in Europe and professional career in law.
Born into a U.S. Army family, Kirsner grew up in Germany and Holland, often going to candy shops in those countries that sold in bulk. After graduating from VCU and law school at George Mason University, she worked at Hunton & Williams and as a corporate lawyer for MeadWestvaco.
Just before the merger that would turn MWV into WestRock, Kirsner left to start her own practice.
“I just realized I never really liked (being a lawyer),” she said. “There’s that saying that nobody’s ever happy when they call a lawyer.”
After closing her practice, she would often spend time at Cafe Caturra (now Caturra on Grove) with her three kids who go to school in the area. She said she began noticing kids hanging out around the area, going into the nearby Starbucks, Boyer’s Ice Cream and Libbie Market.
“I realized there was no candy shop like the ones I went to as a kid in Holland with all the different kinds of candy, with more than just Jelly Belly and M&M’s,” Kirsner said.
Thus Zazoli Sweets was born, opening in March with a variety of packaged treats and bulk candy in containers.
Zazoli opened in March at 308-B Libbie Ave. (Mike Platania)
Kirsner said she buys most of Zazoli’s products from a supplier in Sweden, and carries sugar- and gluten-free candy as well.
The shop is named for the first letters of Kirsner’s kids: Zach, Zoe and Ali.
Zazoli is leasing the 1,200-square-foot space, which was formerly a part of Hampton House gift shop and a bridal shop. Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer’s Michael Shaia represented the landlord in lease negotiations.
After trading the boardroom for the candy shop, Kirsner said life is much sweeter.
“It’s so much better,” she said, laughing. “It’s not only that it’s my own thing, but people are happy to be in here.”
Congratulations, Sharon! It’s so inspiring to see people follow their dreams!