Local Black-Owned Candle Shop Shines a Light on Community and Creativity

Image courtesy of Wicksup Candle Co. A flicker of inspiration has ignited metro Detroit’s artisan scene with the opening of Wicksup Candle Co., a Black-owned candle boutique born from Aisha Sanders’ deep love for her city. More than just a store, Wicksup celebrates culture, creativity, and community through its eco-friendly, 100% soy wax candles, inviting locals to light up their lives with sustainable luxury. Established in 2022, the shop continues to shine as a symbol of Detroit pride and craftsmanship. Sanders was born and raised in Detroit and decided to move to Tampa, Florida, for a while. However, she soon discovered she couldn’t stay away from home for too long and decided to return and start a candle-making business, which sparked the idea during the pandemic. Previously working for the City of Detroit before diving into entrepreneurship, she noticed on her drive to and from work that there was a void and lack of different experiences outside of the traditional restaurants or bars catering to Black people. “Coming home from the city county building, driving up Woodward, it’s either a restaurant or a bar,” Sanders said. “I did a Google search for candle-making near us, and I didn’t find that...