A new store will open Friday and the Jolly Old Elf himself will be there for the grand opening.

Kalenia’s Kandles will feature candles, of course, as well as candle-making supplies, candle scents, baskets, candleholders and more.

“We are going to have a little bit of everything down here,” said the store’s owner, Kalenia Zimmerman, of Coal Grove.

She said she learned how to make candles a couple of years ago at a store in Kentucky.

After learning candle making, she began selling and it just grew for her.

“I did it from home and sold to family and friends,” Zimmerman said. “It just took off.”

She opened her own business for a simple reason.

“I always wanted to be my own boss,” she said. “And for my three girls. I got excited about the idea and three weeks ago, I decided to open a store.”

Besides Zimmerman, her sister and her brother will be working at the store.

Kalenia’s Kandles will also offer classes on candle making.

The grand opening is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday. Besides having Santa there, Zimmerman is going to have little treat bags for kids, Santa sandwiches and drinks, coffee and cookies.

“It’s going to be awesome,” she said. “We’re going to have a ball here.”

The store is located at 210 S. Third Street in downtown Ironton.