LOCKPORT, N.Y. — A newly formed management group, Candlelight Curated Inc., has acquired the operating assets of the former Candlelight Cabinetry facility in Lockport, New York.
The facility, located at 24 Michigan Street, went into foreclosure following sudden financial distress under its previous management, which led to a complete manufacturing shutdown and whole staff layoffs.
A joint partnership between three local investors — Aaron Santarosa, Peter Demakos and Jon Ebel — and Quebec-based manufacturer Cuisine Idéale will invest $11 million to modernize the site, immediately restoring 100 skilled manufacturing jobs that were lost during a sudden shutdown in January 2026.
“This is outstanding news for Lockport and the entire Western New York workforce,” said Governor Kathy Hochul of New York State. “The re-opening of a shuttered business is a major victory, especially when it puts 100 talented people back to work while actively upgrading regional manufacturing infrastructure. This targeted investment helps secure the future of custom cabinet making in Lockport and advances the overall economic momentum of the region.”
The historic plant previously employed roughly 170 people before ongoing operational and lender disputes forced operations to halt, stranding unfulfilled vendor orders. Candlelight Curated Inc. acquired the factory’s operating assets via a Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) foreclosure sale and is mobilizing an immediate restart.
The new ownership group’s $11 million capital deployment strategy will target structural renovations and the integration of precision manufacturing machinery. These expanded capabilities are designed to blend traditional custom craftsmanship with automated industrial efficiencies to capture new market opportunities across the East Coast.
Candlelight Curated Inc. CEO Peter Demakos said, “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. Our primary goal is to get our skilled craftspeople back to the production floor as safely and quickly as possible. With a $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 facilitate the acquisition and protection of regional employment, Empire State Development (ESD) has awarded Candlelight Curated up to $2 million in performance-based Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits tied directly to the firm’s specific job creation commitments. These credits will offset substantial deferred capital maintenance and vital equipment overhauls.
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