Former Newspaper Production Director Gets Sweet On Life

Twenty years ago, it seemed that Bob Sullivan was living the sweet life. He's definitely surrounded by a sweeter life today.

The owner of Sweet Lorraine's candy shop used to be the busy production director for the Wall Street Journal. It gave Sullivan, his wife Mufi, and their three young children the opportunity to travel throughout the U.S. and Europe.

It wasn't until recently, though, that Sullivan discovered just how sweet his life could be. Looking for a more settled environment for their then young family (kids Ryan, Warren, and Allarie, are now 24, 23, and 21, respectively), and wanting to be closer to their extended families, the Sullivans moved to Barrington 19 years ago, right around the time their newest addition to the family, John, was born. Sullivan went to work for the Fall River Herald as a production director, then moved into newspaper equipment sales and supplies.

In 2004, Sullivan found himself musing to his wife that they should open a candy store – it was at the time that Nuts 'N Such closed its doors.  But the timing wasn't quite right for the Sullivans. They put the idea on hold and went on with their working lives, Sullivan in newspaper equipment, and Mufi as a high school development director. It was in the spring three years ago, while driving up Waseca Avenue, that Sullivan said he saw a 'For Rent' sign “and the idea came back.”

The only retail experience Sullivan had was working in a 711 store while he was in college. So ,when their new candy store, Sweet Lorraine's (named after Mufi's mother, Lorraine, who is “extremely sweet”, according to Sullivan), opened in July of 2008 at 211 Waseca Ave., he said, it was “a little trial and error.”

One thing that was never in error was Sullivan's commitment to local suppliers. Sullivan's sweet tooth was refined during his time in Europe, but rather than look for European products to sell, he wanted to find local confectioners who could make the types of chocolate and candy that he enjoyed.

He discovered there were lots of good confectioners within Rhode Island and New England. He determined that from packaging to product, he wanted the focus to be as local as possible.

Garrison Confections is a supplier in Central Falls, and Sweenor's Chocolates is one of the largest confectioners in the state.

When it comes to something a little out of the ordinary, Sweet Lorraine's sells exquisite edible 'art'. French pastry chef, Laurent Vals, is a confections artist, using classic French techniques to craft chocolates and confections in Newport.

The divine truffles that Sweet Lorraine's is well-known for are made by Rudy Houser, of Westerly, who you may have read about in the New York Times. And for some fun confections, look no further than Dorothy Cox Chocolates, of Fairhaven, Mass., which supplies Sweet Lorraine's with chocolate-covered cranberries and chocolate-covered Twinkies. Sweet Lorraine's also has a  selection of sugar-free confections, plus nut-free chocolates from a company located in Vermont.

In keeping with that mindset, Sullivan purchases paper bags from Providence and the store's plastic gift boxes come from a supplier in East Providence. 

Despite being surrounded by delicious confections, Sullivan remains trim. Part of that may be due to the fact that he enjoys walking to work, considering it one of the best things about living and working in Barrington.

For Sullivan, the other great thing about owning a local candy store is that people are always happy when they buy candy.

“Unlike the newspaper business, where people are always in a hurry, and often angry as a result, everyone walking in the door here has a smile on their face,” said Sullivan. “Why wouldn't they? It's a candy store!”

For the record, Sullivan's favorite candy is dark chocolate with nuts.

“A little crunchiness, a little salt,” he said.