Peter J. Kloston,  Founder of  Betty Jane Candies

The Betty Jane Candies story begins in 1938, when Greek immigrant Peter Kloston founded the company. Peter had learned the candy industry on the East Coast and had dreamed of owning a business when a chocolate salesman told him of a candy factory closing in Dubuque, Iowa. This was his opportunity, as he could hire the skilled chocolate dippers and win over some of

Linnea, Ruth, Peter & Helen Kloston

the previous company's customers. From Joliet, IL, he moved his Swedish wife, Linnea, and their three daughters to Dubuque, where the family established a candy shop at 965 Main Street. The candy kitchen was in the back of the store and the family lived upstairs. This was a convenient arrangement for those times Peter needed some assistance in pouring a kettle of caramel—he would simply "tap" on a pipe in the kitchen which would be heard upstairs in the apartment as a signal for someone to promptly head downstairs and give him a helping hand!

Candy Kitchen, c. 1939 Peter (left) & Linnea Kloston (far right) With workers and chocolate dippers

Is there, or was there ever, a Betty Jane? Someone's little white-haired grandmother perhaps? No, Peter conceived the company name because it seemed to fit in with the time and the industry. Other growing candy makers from that era were Fanny Farmer Candies, Fannie Mae Candies or Mrs. See's Candies. It was popular to use a woman's name, giving that homemade and handmade image. Besides, the name, Betty Jane, looked the best in the fancy script he had decided to use on the boxes.

Christmas Rush, c. 1944 - During the sugar and chocolate rationing period of WWII

It was fortunate for Peter and his company that business was good. It was well established by World War II, when sugar and chocolate rationing limited the product that could be produced. The business survived, in spite of being open for only a few hours each day.

The second generation of candy makers began when Peter and Linnea's oldest daughter, Ruth, married John Heinz. John gave up his trade as a meat-cutter to apprentice with

Ruth & John Heinz 2nd Generation Owners

his father-in-law. Eventually, John and Peter became partners in the business until Peter's death in 1967. Through John and Ruth's tenure, the additions of two new store locations were opened—one additional location downtown (1973) and another on the west side of Dubuque in Kennedy Mall (1972). Ruth managed the store in the mall and her sister, Helen, managed the new location downtown. John managed the original location and its company's administration while making candy with his son, John, Jr. After Helen's death in 1988, the location she managed downtown was relocated to the west side of Dubuque in Warren Plaza in 1989. Also in 1989, the location in Kennedy Mall was relocated within the mall to a store area with more space. John and Ruth, throughout their 45-plus years in

The Heinz Family (left to right) Ruth, John, Jr., John, Sr., Linnae & Gail

the candy business, worked steadfastly to build BettyJane Candies as Dubuque's renowned hometown candy store right up until their deaths in 1992 and 1996 respectively. Today, their son, John, Jr., is the chief candy maker and president of the company. Daughters Linnae and Gail are also actively involved with the company as director of retail sales and director of advertising, marketing and human resources. Gail's fiancé, George Hagge, is part of the family as a candy and ice cream maker.

Ruth's other sister, Lois, also continued in the candy business by moving to Colorado Springs, CO, with her husband, John Michopoulos, and opened Michelle Chocolatier's & Ice Cream in 1952. Today, Lois' sons manage their three locations—two in Colorado Springs and one in Denver.

John Heinz, Jr. and Betty Jane employees with nickel-plated Easter egg molds

With each family now in its third generation, the cousins continue to share their candy-making expertise and materials. Every Easter, they still share the same antique, nickel-plated, egg-shaped, bunny and basket molds to produce their old world forms and characters. Grandpa Pete's original formulas and the same special ingredients are still used today to make the premium product the Dubuque area grew up with.

Until 1996, the candy was still being

Betty Jane Candies & Ice Cream 3049 Asbury Rd. Dubuque, IA

manufactured at the downtown Dubuque location, with outlets at Kennedy Mall and Warren Plaza in Dubuque. A new site, at 3049 Asbury Road, presented the opportunity to move the candy kitchens, home office operations, shipping, packing and packaging departments out

Betty Jane Candies & Ice Cream 3049 Asbury Rd. Dubuque, IA

of the original small space. Also added at the new facility was an ice cream parlor, featuring a new product: homemade ultra-premium gourmet ice cream made from Grandpa Pete's recipes. A year later in 1997, Betty Jane Candies opened its first out-of-town location in Lindale Mall, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Betty Jane Candies, Original Location 965 Main St. Dubuque, IA

On May 25, 2001, the doors of the original Betty Jane Candies location at 965 Main Street were permanently closed due to the termination of its lease. Although it was sad to say good-bye to a candy home of over 63 years, the memories of its remarkable beginning and rich heritage will continue to be part of the spirit of Betty Jane Candies. Presently, Betty Jane Candies serves the Dubuque community, the Tri-State area, and Cedar Rapids in its remaining three locations.

Linnae, John, & Gail Heinz, 3rd Generation Owners with their mother, Ruth Heinz

Our Betty Jane family continues to take great pride in producing fine homemade candies and ice cream and is committed to excellence in order to ensure the highest quality product and service possible for our valued and devoted customers. This has been and always will be the Betty Jane tradition founded by Grandpa Pete, developed and expanded by Papa John and Mama Ruth, and enhanced and preserved in its third generation by John, Jr., Linnae, Gail & George.