Candlelight Curated Plans Lockport, New York, Operations

Area Development News Desk

05/17/2026

Custom cabinetry manufacturer Candlelight Curated Inc. plans to establish operations in Lockport, New York. The $11 million project is expected to create 100 jobs in Niagara County.

The investment will include the acquisition and modernization of the former Candlelight Cabinetry facility located at 24 Michigan Street.

“We are incredibly grateful for New York State, the Niagara County IDA and Senator Ortt’s swift partnership, which allowed us to step in, secure this historic facility and protect Lockport's long-standing legacy of high-end cabinet manufacturing,” said Peter Demakos, CEO of Candlelight Curated Inc. “Our primary goal is to get our skilled craftspeople back to the production floor as safely and quickly as possible. With an $11 million commitment toward structural renovations and machinery upgrades, we are positioning this plant to operate with greater efficiency, higher quality and broader custom design capabilities than ever before.”

To support the project, Empire State Development awarded Candlelight Curated up to $2 million in performance-based Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits tied to the company’s job creation commitments.

“Governor Hochul’s strategic support is successfully re-opening a critical Lockport facility and returning 100 highly skilled manufacturing workers to a stable payroll,” noted Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight. “ESD remains deeply committed to fostering an economic climate where advanced manufacturers can scale, and we look forward to watching this facility thrive under the vision of Candlelight Curated’s new leadership.”

Candlelight Curated is a joint partnership between Aaron Santarosa, Peter Demakos, and Jon Ebel, along with Quebec-based manufacturer Cuisine Idéale. The company produces candles and home fragrance products for consumer and retail markets.

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