Papabubble sells artisan treats made in-store, such as caramels, fudge, gummy bubbles, marshmallows and s'mores; delivers customized orders; and offers classes to teach the candy-making process—which Cushman said is his favorite aspect of the business.
“Believe it or not, there's a lot of science behind it,” Cushman said, “It’s like a fun edible chemistry experiment, and I like sharing that with people.”
The Papabubble brand is owned by a company in Barcelona, Spain, with many locations throughout Asia and Europe, Cushman said.
All of their candies are made in-house with limited ingredients and high-quality products, which Cushman said he takes a lot of pride in.
The name Papabubble is meant to describe what happens when candy is made, he said.
“When you [stretch] the candy, you're folding air into it to get it to a [certain] texture or to look a different way,” Cushman said. “And as part of that, you'll hear a [popping sound] like when you chew gum.”
The Houston Papabubble began operating online in November 2022 with candies being made at a ghost kitchen in the Galleria area, Cushman said. The Heights store opened in August 2023.
Cushman said having a physical space where he can provide an experience to people in the neighborhood and be involved with area schools and other businesses is “what gets him up in the morning.”
“Just with how digital everything is these days, we get fewer and fewer chances to interact with people,” Cushman said. “That’s why I like having a retail store. I like sharing the processes with people.”
- 927 Studewood St., Ste. 120, Houston
- www.papabubblehtx.com
