What a wonderful development! The Judson Candy Factory Condominium development is a wonderful fusion of historical beauty and modern sleek”ism” and truly provides the “Sweet Life.”
Most typical blogs out there are focusing on the cool condos and the lifestyle and we will here also but let’s start with a bit of the history rather than merely making this a promo for what is sure to be, one of the grooviest properties in the development…
In 1899, E. J. Jenner opened Jenner Manufacturing Company on St. Mary’s Street which made hard stick candies, peanut brittles and 5 cent fudge bars. Around 1920, J. W. Judson bought part ownership of the company and constructed a new factory on part of the old Judson’s Ranch, which is now South Flores Street. In the 1930’s, Judson’s added a starch department and started manufacturing candies with jelly and crème centers such as fruit drops, orange slices, jelly beans, and Easter eggs. Mr. Judson started experimenting, trying to make a more tart jelly bean and ended up inventing the “sour,” one of the company’s most popular items.
In 1941, J. W. Judson’s sons purchased the company from Mr. Jenner and in 1945 changed the name to Judson’s Candies. Mr. Judson’s son George Jr. then invented another popular item, the chewy praline. Praline used to be prepared by scooping the batter with an ice cream scooper, however that process was mechanized using an electronic depositor developed by Southwest Research Institute.
Let’s spend a few minutes looking at George E. Judson Jr. who was a great leader of the company for many, many years and oversaw the factory where generations of San Antonio schoolchildren enjoyed free tours and samples who pass on back in December, 2010. George was born in San Antonio and attended Jefferson High School and the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied aeronautical engineering. He married Ruth Taft Beakley in 1943 and later joined the Navy in June 1944, fighting in the Pacific theater, according to his family.
In 1965, Judson’s Candies was purchased by the Pearl Brewing Company, which was then purchased by Southdown, Inc. In July 1983, Judson’s Candies was purchased by Basil Atkinson Sr., Dr. Basil Atkinson Jr., and the family, and renamed Judson-Atkinson Candies. In 1998, the company moved from South Flores to its present location on Dividend.
We have recently (today!) launched a new listing down there which is the definition of sweet city living! It is a beautifully anointed 2 bed/2 bath in the old Granary building with entry directly off of Flores and has one of the very few basements which by the way is brightly lit and shows very well! The primary floor features hardwood flooring, 12.5 ft ceilings, loads of windows and beautiful accents. The oversized living area downstairs has great exposed concrete flooring, loads of lighting as well as the second bedroom and a full bath. 1958 Square Feet/$359,000 - Call Michael Berger at 210.828.4000 or Gina Candelario at 210.744.8265.
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