THE GOOGOO

Our guests often ask: “What’s with the GooGoo candy?”

Our gift of a GooGoo says “Welcome to Applewood Manor” for us. It’s a Southern nicety—a tradition of giving a guest something to show that they are welcome when they arrive—like a glass of lemonade or iced tea a hot summer day. There is another aspect to our welcoming tradition. No one can accept a GooGoo, or turn one down for that matter, without smiling, and taking the time to chat. It helps us get to know each other

The traditional world-famous GooGoo, a chocolate cluster of marshmallow, caramel, and peanuts, is made by the tiny Standard Candy Company in Nashville, Tennessee. Its heritage dates back to 1912 when Standard Candy’s founder mixed a batch of the ingredients in his kitchen and his toddling son proclaimed “goo-goo”. Or at least that’s one version of how this remarkable candy got its name. There is still another story. GooGoo’s were one of the original sponsors of the now famous Grand Ole Opry, and GOO could be an acronym for the Grand Ole Opry!

Standard Candy also manufactures private label confectioneries like log rolls and other vending machine products. And, in the last twenty years, it has begun to manufacture several variations of the GooGoo. Now, you can purchase a GooGoo Supreme made with pecans rather than peanuts and a peanut butter version that uses white chocolate. A bite-size version of the traditional GooGoo is also available, but in the style of generous Southern portions, you better have a big bite if you expect to eat one of these “GooGoo Babies” in just one gulp. At one time, they even introduced a GooGoo liqueur. One of the few remaining bottles of this magic elixir is on display at Applewood, but you will have to be satisfied with a look, no sipping, please. Despite all the variations, most GooGoo connoisseurs will tell you there is just one real GooGoo, and that is the traditional one that has been made for over a 100 years. The others are just faux GooGoos, a passing fad that will be long gone when the good old standard is celebrating its bicentennial.

Back when Applewood’s owner, Stephen Collins, was beginning his business career, he and I were at the helm of our software company Juris, Inc. We were struck by the solemn countenance of legal professionals and administrators whisking through conference and exhibit halls. They were in too big a hurry to stop and talk to us about the services Juris provided to law firms. This was a crisis! We needed something friendly that would get their attention and put a smile on their faces—business discussions could come later. That’s when we got the GooGoo idea. We became so associated with the candy treat that we even include a GooGoo in the photographs used in our ads. A GooGoo just makes your day a little brighter and a little more fun. So, Stephen brought the GooGoo tradition with him to Applewood.