Kawaii Candy Cart: Serving Sweetness to Louisville
This woman-owned, minority-owned candy bar service brings the party to you. Get to know Brandi Hall and Kawaii Candy Cart!
Brandi Hall is the owner and operator of Kawaii Candy Cart, a mobile cart that brings cotton candy, churros, artisan sherbet, and other treats to events in and around Louisville. As she explains, the adorably themed service — named after the Japanese word for “cute” — didn’t actually start as a business venture. Today, Brandi shares the inspiration behind Kawaii Candy, the flavors and services she offers, and more.
Sweet Inspiration
“I was primarily inspired by my kids and their friends,” Brandi says of her business endeavor, explaining that her house was the hot spot for her daughters — six-year-old Logan and two-year-old Lavender — to hang out with their buddies during the summer. With so many little ones running around, Brandi thought it would be fun to have a cotton candy machine. After she purchased the equipment and started serving spun sugar to the kids, the wheels in her head started turning.
“I realized I could probably make a whole business out of [it],” she recalls, adding that she has run businesses before and it’s in her nature to be entrepreneurial. “It took about a week, then I just came up with ‘Kawaii.’ I have always loved Hello Kitty and Pusheen and all of the Kawaii characters. So, it all came about naturally. It was just a combination of everything that I like — between really cute stuff, sweets, and delivering fun.”
To help deliver that fun, Brandi has incorporated a mascot, Kawaii the Bear, into the business. “I joke, it’s basically me in cartoon form,” she says with a laugh, adding that the bear is often seen dancing. “Kawaii as a brand is truly from my heart. It’s an embodiment of who I am, [and] I try to bring joy.”
A Pinch of Salt
Brandi’s business began with just cotton candy. But less than a year later, she expanded her offerings to include churros, artisan sherbet, and movie-style popcorn. As she explains, every Kawaii Candy Cart treat has a bit of nostalgia tied to it.
“I love cotton candy,” she exclaims. “When I was little, we used to go to Chuck E. Cheese, and my cousins would save up all their tickets for the really big prizes. I could never get that many tickets. I would only have enough for the cotton candy … but I’d be so happy and satisfied with it. That’s where my love for cotton candy comes from — just being happy in that moment.”
The West Coast native explains that Disneyland churros also made a significant impact on her childhood, and she recalls taking numerous trips to Thrifty Ice Cream to enjoy a scoop or two with her grandfather. “Every product that I have has some sort of connection to the best memories of my childhood,” she says. “And I just love movie theater popcorn!”
Where and When
Customers can book cotton candy and other services by the hour. They also have the option of renting a custom cotton candy tower with pre-made bags of cotton candy that are ready to go. There are currently 10 standard flavors available, including everything from vanilla and banana to piña colada and birthday cake. Brandi is also working on new flavors — for both cotton candy and sherbet.
“I’m focusing on fruit sherbet because that’s what I grew up with,” she explains. “Right now, I’m doing orange, lemon, and grapefruit. [I’m also] working on an ube one — and ube cotton candy.”
Brandi brings her cart to various events, including pop-ups at local breweries. To cater more toward the grownup crowd, she also offers some alcohol-infused cotton candy flavors, including bourbon, peach brandy, and champagne. “I’m playing around with fun flavors,” she says. “We’ll have more over the summer.”
Coming Soon!
In addition to a growing list of flavors, the Kawaii Candy Cart business will also soon include a trailer. Brandi says that she can currently accommodate private parties of up to 500, but adding a trailer to the mix will open up more opportunities.
“Right now, most of my events are private … weddings or birthday parties, things like that,” she says, explaining that the cart primarily stays indoors. “I do pop-ups here and there, which I put on my website or social media. [When] I have my trailer … I wily be considered a food truck and can go to bigger, public-facing events.”
Brandi plans to have her trailer up and running by April 2024 and will post updates on Kawaii Candy Cart’s Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
“The goal of the business is to just bring out the kid in everyone,” she says. “Life is so short; I just want everyone of all ages to experience Kawaii and feel like a kid again. At the core of my business, it’s just about joy.”
**********
Stay in the know on the best of life in the South. Subscribe to StyleBlueprint!
Lennie Omalza
Originally from Hawaii, Lennie Omalza is a Louisville-based freelance writer of over 18 years. Lennie is a yoga-loving foodie who travels as often as she can and enjoys writing about food, homes, and weddings. You can find more of Lennie's work at Eater, Hawaii Home & Remodeling, and The Louisville Courier-Journal.