The Corner Candleshop is locally owned, operated and loved by Lori Block. Lori has been hand-pouring specialty candles in the Brookside neighborhood she calls home since July 2003.
In the beginning , Lori just made votive candles. “That's it, a living off of votive candles and accessories. Now, The Corner Candleshop makes votives, tea lights, melting cubes, tins, jars, car fresheners, room sprays, diffusers, and we sell our oils in small quantities. We also offer a custom pour service, filling any container you wish to turn it into a candle. You can refill an old candle container or turn an heirloom vessel or teacup into a candle. The possibilities are endless. Over 2 decades of candle making, we have increased the number of fragrances we offer to just over 175 scents.”
“Candle making is an art and we take it seriously. By using the best oils, lead-free cotton wicks and clean burning soy-blended wax, and handcrafting our candles in small batches, we ensure that every product meets our high standards. We do not cut costs where oils are concerned because we want our fragrances to be as authentic as possible with no artificial undertone. We also blend several of our own scents so you will not find our exclusive candles sold by other brands or manufacturers."
An Entrepreneur at Heart
“I’ve always been an entrepreneur at heart,” Lori said. “When I was five- or six-years-old I was selling Kool-Aide in the driveway. At seven I was having garage sales selling anything I could sneak out of the house. At eight I was selling my friend’s dad’s vegetables out of a wagon and selling pot holders that I made on a loom to the farmers who lived behind me. As I turned nine and 10, I graduated to leaf-raking, car-washing, and baking for my neighbors. My best friend and I had a cookie-baking business that we delivered on our bikes. But that only lasted for two days. I went to school for everything but business and this is where life took me.”
Creating Her Own Scents
“I love to have my hands in creating scents that can only be found at The Corner Candleshop.” Lori said of owning her own business. “I love going to market to buy accessories and decor for the store, and seeing the trends and putting my own spin on what is current.” “ I have recently started what I like to call treasure hunting, and have begun adding vintage glassware and unique pieces where I see fit.”
The Neighborhood Candle Shop
“Brookside is a charming, eclectic neighborhood that we love being a part of,” Lori said. “People are kind and there is a feeling of unity among neighbors, shoppers and business owners. It is a great convenience for neighbors to shop where they live. It is a wonderful feeling to preserve the shopping center as to the use that it was intended for.”
“I feel like I am providing a unique service to my neighborhood by handcrafting candles on a daily basis,” Lori said. “I have a small retail space so it is easier to stay focused on the candles.”
After all these years, Lori said she knows what works: Provide a friendly, welcoming store environment with a genuinely unique product and amazing customer service and the customers will return.
The Corner Candleshop
6231 Brookside Plaza
816-361-6393
Your neighborhood Candlemaker since 2003!
Updated February 2024