Coronavirus: See’s Candies is resuming operations, reopening — but slowly

If you’re a chocolate-loving mom, the upcoming Mother’s Day is starting to look brighter.

After suspending all production for weeks because of the coronavirus crisis, California’s legendary See’s Candies will be ramping back up.

“Since March, we have reconfigured how we make and sell candy,” CEO Pat Egan announced Tuesday in a letter to customers. “Our production floors have fewer people making and packing our candy with care. We have taken the past few weeks to review all of our operations and ensure we can work safely in all aspects of our business.”

Website sales at Sees.com will resume soon, he said, and a limited number of stores have reopened for socially distanced sales.

At those locations customers will order and pay by phone, then wait for their order to be placed on a pickup table outside by a See’s employee wearing the traditional white-and-black uniform, plus a mask and gloves.

The only stores currently listed as open for noon-5 p.m. pickups are those in North San Jose (Brokaw), Sunnyvale, Petaluma, Salinas and Stockton.

“Because we only make fresh product, and we have limited supplies, we ask for your patience as we ramp back up. After not being able to support your Easter traditions, we want to be there for you for Mother’s Day, birthdays, cravings days, and every day in between.”

Hundreds of See’s fans — especially those who had missed getting their favorite Mayfair, Bordeaux or Rocky Road candy egg for Easter — reacted enthusiastically to the news on social media and begged the company to open more shops for pickup.

“Palm Springs please!” posted Barbara J. Mooradian on the See’s Facebook page. “Please open up the Clovis or Fresno store for no contact pick up!” Kathi Morris wrote. And from the heartland, Steph Crocker said: “I crave California Brittle, but there’s none to be had in Kansas.”

The storied candy maker — founded by Mary See and family in Los Angeles in 1921 and now headquartered in South San Francisco — had announced in late March that it was suspending operations for only the second time in its 99 years of existence. The previous stoppage occurred during World War II because of rationing.

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San Jose community briefs for the week of Sept. 18 A 1943 advertisement for See’s touted both the product and patriotism. “These days when candy is limited — quality is of supreme importance,” the ad read, followed by this admonishment: “Be conservative in your See’s candy purchases, and buy more WAR BONDS.”

During this COVID-19 shutdown, Egan said See’s donated 100 tons of candy throughout the West to hospitals, health-care workers, first responders, food banks, as well as groups including Meals on Wheels, Ronald McDonald Houses and the YMCA.

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