Selden Market is home to many qualified small businesses, from coffee to cuisine and clothing to candle making. If you’re looking for a new date night activity or a Saturday hangout with the girls, head to Sugar & Grace Co!
The Story of Sugar & Grace Co
Sugar and Grace owner Erica Parham set out to create non-toxic candles with natural ingredients after the doctor helped her realize that candles were the cause of her migraines. After mastering the candle craft, she was excited to share her all-natural candles with the Norfolk community and eventually started her business full-time.
The Sugar & Grace Space
When stepping into Sugar & Grace, you’ll be immediately enveloped in positive messages of self-love and female empowerment. Beautiful classic décor with gold embellishments throughout is complemented with pops of pink and lush greenery perfectly placed around the store. The energy is both calming and vibrant, with candles and flowers adorning the walls. This chic haven makes you feel all the warm and fuzzy feelings.
Candle Making Classes
In the middle of the store stand creative stations, ready for customers to sit down and dive into their masterpieces. Visitors can explore artistic talents with either candle making or flower arranging.
Creativity with Candles
If candle-making isn’t in your wheelhouse, the Sugar & Grace team is extremely helpful in guiding you through the process. You get to choose from a variety of decorative jars and a multitude of fragrant scents. Whether you prefer the citrus and sweet aromas, or the rugged, woodsy smells, there’s a perfect flavor out there for everyone. And the best part? You can combine scents! Once your tastes are finalized, you get to move on to the wax melting and pouring into your candle holder. It might sound intimidating, but even those that don’t have a natural knack for crafting will be able to follow along.
It takes about an hour for the candle wax to set, which provides the perfect excuse to take a stroll through Selden Market and the window shop. Afterward, you can pick up your candle and get to burning! The wicks are wooden, providing that excellent crackle as it burns for an extra cozy ambiance.
For candle enthusiasts that enjoy the all-natural candles from Sugar & Grace but don’t want to take the class every time, housemade candles are available for purchase. With unique names ranging from playful titles like ‘Where You Going Smelling Like That?’ to empowering ones such as ‘Strength of a Woman’ and ‘Still I Rise,’ there’s a candle to burn for every mood. And don’t forget, there’s also a ‘build your own bouquet’ option so that you’ll have something beautiful to place on the shelf next to your new candle.
Special Occasion Classes
While stations are set up for people to pop in and make a candle or flower arrangement, spots can quickly fill up! You can make reservations, or better yet, make an event out of it with one of their themed workshops.
Whether you need a gift for a friend or are looking for a unique way to spend an afternoon, plan a visit to Sugar & Grace Co. in Selden Market. Be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram to stay in the know.
Tiffany Frazier
Ghent, NFK
Tiffany grew up in Chesapeake but has called Norfolk home for the past seven years. She fell in love with the city while working with Festevents during college summer breaks. She graduated from James Madison University (Go Dukes!) with a degree in corporate communication. Tiffany now works as a digital marketing specialist and enjoys strolling and rollerblading her way around Norfolk. She lives in Ghent with her husband Trevor, and their two cats, Tux and Joe.
