On the shore of Torch Lake, Carter Candles is keeping an old family tradition burning while embracing the digital age.
The shop began in 1973, when Mildred Carter opened a small storefront in Alden and began making intricate wax “hurricane” candles. Her daughter-in-law, Penny Carter, later took over with her husband, Fletcher. Now the third generation is carrying the flame. Magistrate Judge Sarah Carter and her husband, David, became owners in January 2025.
“It’s funny — I feel like I fell asleep and woke up in a Hallmark movie,” Sarah Carter said. “The story behind how David and I met, and then working with his parents at the gift shop, and their wanting an exit strategy to retire, everything just fell into place. It’s been this sweet love story.”
The couple met seven years ago at an animal hospital where Sarah was working part-time. David brought in his dog, Riley, and the two struck up long conversations that turned into a relationship. They married three years ago.
Penny Carter still pours her candles by hand, many decorated with poinsettias, local flowers or leaves, and they emit a beautiful glow when lit. But other aspects of the operations are being modernized, Sarah Carter said, and e-commerce will become an essential part of the business.
“When we took over, we still had the old credit card machines with carbon paper and dial-up,” she said. “MRA kept saying, ‘This equipment is going to be obsolete.’ I told David, ‘Oh my gosh, we have to get Wi-Fi.’”
Upgrading to modern point-of-sale systems and creating an online presence will allow customers to order gifts year-round.
“We are hoping people discover us online and then want to visit in person, or that they come here in the summer and reorder from home in the winter,” she said. “It will be a true blend of the old and the new.”
Alden is a summer destination, so Carter Candles operates mainly from May through December.
“I try to be the last one up here,” Carter said. “Everybody else goes away for the winter, but I stay open through New Year’s Eve. Last year, we had so much snow I couldn’t even get to the door.”
Staffing follows the same pattern. In addition to having a longtime employee, Carter hires college students who return during the holidays.
“We don’t have a lot of employees, so everyone pitches in,” she said. “We still need the help and guidance of Penny and Fletcher. None of this would be possible if Mildred and Penny hadn’t forged the way over the past 52 years.”
Carter’s roots in Alden run deep. Her parents live directly across the lake from the home David’s grandmother bought in the 1950s. She measures her life by “summers on Torch Lake,” and she said supporting the community is a priority.
“We joined the Downtown Alden Business Association,” Carter said. “This is such a strong, supportive community. We all share ideas on what works and how to draw people in.” The shop features goods from Michigan makers and hosts small events to bring residents and visitors together.
Carter credits the MRA with helping the business modernize.
“My MRA representative is Emily Walters, and she is fantastic—funny, smart, responsive, and she just gets me,” Carter said. “Emily helped me through the process of upgrading our systems. We went from a minute and a half for each transaction to instant.”
She calls MRA “the best-kept secret in all of Michigan.”
“Any retailer who is not affiliated with this organization does not understand what they’re missing,” she said. “Just reading the publication and seeing how many other people are out there and the resources that are available is huge.”
Carter balances her magistrate duties for three counties with running the store, but plans to make the shop her full-time career.
“I really look forward to that,” she said. “That’s what I want.”