FEATURED STORY

Meet the Family Behind Garden Gate Chocolate, Utah’s Holiday Tradition

Dec 11, 2018, 6:54 AM

Helen Vanderlinden

SALT LAKE CITY — Here near the intersection of 9th and 9th in Salt Lake City, the signs of progress are everywhere.

For Helen Vanderlinden, this is nothing new. For more than 75 years, she’s been the matriarch of Garden Gate Chocolate — more than a staple, it’s an icon.

It all started in the 1940s, the middle of World War Two.

“And my husband came home from work and said, ‘I just bought an ice cream store.’ And I was flabbergasted,” Helen says.

Sugar cost a fortune back then, so instead: “He said, ‘Maybe we’ll do some chocolates.’ Well I had never seen chocolates made before.”

Helen started making toffee, and it’s some of the best you’ll ever have. In fact, at 94 years old, she’s still making it today.

Her grandson Josh Plumb is now the third-generation family member peddling confections to the masses.

That is, of course, if you can find them.

“The business model defies all logic, it’s like, I don’t…I don’t know how it works,” Josh says. “They’ve never been in the phone book, never been on the internet, we don’t even have a website. We don’t have anything. Just a phone that turns on in November and a phone that turns off in December, that’s it.”

That’s right. Garden Gate, and their famous toffee, the caramels, the clusters, the chocolates that have become a holiday tradition for so many, is only open two months of out of the year.

“We start in mid-October making the candy and then we open up on the first of November,” Helen says.

Trouble is with all the customers who come back year after year, they usually run out of candy before Christmas.

“We’ll probably make it to the 15th or so.”

Meaning there is literally a shelf life to their product.

“When it’s gone, it’s gone.”

In the age of online ordering, two-day shipping, social media and websites — all the progress — people always ask why Garden Gate isn’t open year round. Why no website, no social media, no phone?

It’s simple really.

“They don’t do it for the money,” Josh says. “They do it because it’s a family tradition that they’ve done for so long.”

A tradition many will find and enjoy as they have for generations.

KSL 5 TV Live

Featured Story

KSL Investigators Matt Gephardt, Brittany Glas and Mike Headrick....

Keri Wilcox, KSL TV

Matt Gephardt Joins Award-Winning KSL TV Investigative Team

Consumer reporter Matt Gephardt will work alongside Mike Headrick and Brittany Glas.

4 years ago

Dr. Matt Swenson talks with KSL TV's Dan Spindle...

Dan Spindle, KSL TV

Child Psychiatrist Shares The Best Ways For Parents To Get Their Kids To Open Up

Utah children and teens are grappling with intense circumstances surrounding depression, anxiety and even suicide. A Utah psychiatrist hopes to gives adults the tools they need to help.

5 years ago

Jack Lund...

Sam Penrod, KSL

Richfield Man Retires From Mail Delivery At Age 91

It was August 1949, when the U.S. postal service stopped using the train to deliver mail to Richfield, and a 21-year-old kid, made his first mail run in a delivery truck from Salt Lake, back to his hometown.

5 years ago

...

Mike Headrick, Tania Dean

Duped At The Dump? KSL Investigates ‘Recycling’ Fee

Many people are willing to pay extra to have something recycled. But what if that’s not happening?

5 years ago

...

Debbie Dujanovic, Mark Stevens

Unaffordable Utah: In A Pinch? Here’s How Emergency Cash Options Stack Up

If you find yourself short on cash, where do you turn? Payday loans, 401(k) loans, or credit cards? We compare the pros and cons of several emergency cash options.

5 years ago

...

Deanie Wimmer, KSL TV

Violent Behavior In Elementary Students Becoming More Prevalent

Teachers have noted that violent behavior among students has become more prevalent, and it's an indication of the mental health crisis in the state's schools. 

5 years ago

Sponsored Articles

Stack of old laptops with dark background...

PC Laptops

Old Laptop Upgrades You Need to Try Before Throwing it Away

Get the most out of your investment. Try these old laptop upgrades before throwing it out to keep it running fast and efficient.

Happy diverse college or university students are having fun on their graduation day...

BYU MBA at the Marriott School of Business

How to Choose What MBA Program is Right for You: Take this Quiz Before You Apply!

Wondering what MBA program is right for you? Take this quiz before you apply to see if it will help you meet your goals.

Close up of an offset printing machine during production...

Les Olson IT

Top 7 Reasons to Add a Production Printer to Your Business

Learn about the different digital production printers and how they can help your company save time and money.

vintage photo of lighting showroom featuring chandeliers, lamps, wall lights and mirrors...

Lighting Design

History of Lighting Design | Over 25 Years of Providing Utah With the Latest Trends and Styles

Read about the history of Lighting Design, a family-owned and operated business that paved the way for the lighting industry in Utah.

Fiber Optical cables connected to an optic ports and Network cables connected to ethernet ports...

Brian Huston, CE and Anthony Perkins, BICSI

Why Every Business Needs a Structured Cabling System

A structured cabling system benefits businesses by giving you faster processing speeds and making your network more efficient and reliable.

notebook with password notes highlighted...

PC Laptops

How to Create Strong Passwords You Can Actually Remember

Learn how you can create strong passwords that are actually easy to remember! In a short time you can create new ones in seconds.

Meet the Family Behind Garden Gate Chocolate, Utah’s Holiday Tradition