Candlemaking legacy passes to son

BERNARDSTON, Mass. (WWLP) - You might say 20 year old Mike Kittredge was bound to open his own candle shop one day.

Michael Kittredge III’s father had founded Yankee Candle Company years ago. Now, the younger Kittredge has founded Kringle Candle Company, whose store has just opened in Bernardston.

As he greeted well-wishes on the Franklin County store’s first weekend, Kittredge told 22News of the strong business parallels between him and the store founded by his dad.

“My dad had started when he was sixteen years old in his basement, and this company I started when I was 17 years old in my basement,” he said.

Mike's dad is clearly proud of his son in a low-key sort of way. Speaking with 22News, the elder Kittredge said that the 20 year old success is purely his son’s.

“It's pretty cool to be back with my son, It's really his company, but I'm happy to do a little design work; it was always my favorite part of the business,” the elder Kittredge said.

Well wishes were many at this newest business in Bernardston. A Greenfield woman weighed-in with her impressions of Kringle Candle.

“It's beautiful, it's just like a mini Yankee Candle, I love the antiques,” Madonna Quast said.

And so the Mike Kittredge father and son saga went from dream into reality. Just as the name of the older Kittredge will always be synonymous with Yankee Candle Company, Young Mike would hope his legacy lies in Kringle Candle Company.