Former owner remains on property with catalog, insurance agency

New owner finds work days after losing job at hospital

MOSES LAKE — Synchronicity, serendipity and sweetness all seem to have contributed to the latest goings-on at Great Northwest Chocolate Factory.

You see, Factory owner Alberta Cannon sold her business last month to longtime Coulee City resident Jean Blevins.

But that doesn't mean Cannon is going away. Far from it, in fact.

While Blevins handles the Chocolate Factory business, Cannon remains inside the building itself, located at 1180 N. Stratford Road, where she will retain the JC Penney Catalog and has added a Farmers Insurance Agency, where she will function in the role of agent. Rose's Down Home Bakery also will remain in the location.

"I wanted to start doing the Farmer's Insurance Agency, and there was no way I could do all of it and do a good job," Cannon explained. "I'm very excited about it."

Cannon said she feels like she can help people in her new position, citing some recent assistance for a couple living on a fixed income as an example.

"I like to help people," she said, noting that she is also training Blevins at the same time.

"I've had a few mistakes," Blevin said with a laugh. "My family loves them. They go home. They don't look pretty, maybe, but they taste good, so my family loves it."

Blevins said she was laid off from the Grand Coulee hospital after 16 years as part of several cuts being made. She had originally been thinking about opening a bed and breakfast, but fate pushed things in another direction.

"I heard about this place on Tuesday, I got laid off on Wednesday and signed papers on Thursday," she said. "And opened a week from that Monday."

The doors opened under Blevins' management March 14. She had to replenish the candy stock, adding homemade caramels, and is adding to gift stock. She and another resident businessperson are also planning to add a chocolate fondue fountain that will be available for rental for events.

There are no plans for other changes to the business at the moment, although Blevins wants to add more gifts and other new candy recipes.

Blevins has lived in Coulee City since 1980. She is in the process of selling her home and moving to Moses Lake.

Cannon has lived in the area since 1991. She started the Chocolate Factory in 1995.

"It's almost 10 years, so I was really happy that it's not leaving," she said. "It was kind of like my little baby that I didn't want to go away."