At Alisha Alexander’s boutique shop at the UnCommons development in Las Vegas, customers can not only buy candles, but also make them.
Her shop, Speakeasy Candle Co., in August was one of the first stores to open at the $400 million mixed-use development, which is going up near the 215 Beltway and Durango Drive.
The shop sells upscale scented candles, but also has a secret area in the back where Alexander will teach classes on how to make customized candles (hence the name, Speakeasy).
Alisha Alexander
The shop specializes in making “cocktail-themed” candles, such as an Old Fashioned candle or a gin-and-tonic candle. It was the first business to open at UnCommons.
Vegas Inc visited with Alexander, a Georgia transplant who moved to Las Vegas a few years ago with her physician husband, to learn more about her business and the under-construction development.
Are candles in right now?
Oh my gosh, yes. Candles aren’t necessary but are definitely in fashion. Chandlery is nothing more than the art and science of making candles. Back in the day, the village chandler was in charge of keeping the town or palace lit, but also making sure it doesn’t burn down. I tell that to the people who take my classes.
Candles, they still provide ambience; that’s the decor side. Candles still have a foothold in any interior design vignette. Then, you have the wellness side of candles—aromatherapy, self-care, just taking that time to pause and lean into scents that make you feel calm, excited, cozy, sensual or relaxed. That’s the beauty of what we do. We can help people get there.
Where are you from and how did you end up in Las Vegas?
I’m from Atlanta. We’ve been here for about six years. My husband’s job brought us out here. He’s a pain management physician. He went to medical school with a guy who owns a clinic out here. He was recruited for like a year. We were like “Vegas, I don’t know,” but we loved it once we got here.
How did the idea for the candle shop come about?
This is a new baby. My background is in product development and fashion design. I tried a few attempts in that lane after I came to Vegas, but, honestly, it was all market-based, pop-up based, and COVID-19 shut all that down. Speakeasy Candle is one of those COVID business babies for me. It was kind of challenging to pivot, which is something that you’re always kind of doing in entrepreneurship.
I love candles. That was my first home decor element when I moved out of my mother’s home. I remember I put some candles in the kitchen of my first apartment. That just made me feel like an adult. Candles have been a part of my journey for a long time. I never put the lens on it that I could be a candle business owner until COVID.
UnCommons is such an interesting development. When it’s finished, there will be apartments, office space and a number of different businesses. Why did you decide to open there?
The people with UnCommons were the first ones to give me the opportunity to fully speak on my idea and the brand. A lot of other places that I sent documents to, they didn’t respond, or we’d talk on the phone, but it wouldn’t go any further. When I talked to the leaders at UnCommons, they wanted to know about my idea and my plans and why I thought it might be a
good fit.
UnCommons is curating that experiential aspect with just enough local influence and newness. It didn’t feel like they were copying and pasting. It felt like they were intentional about elevated experiences and showcasing unique brands.
So you sell candles, of course, but also make gift baskets and offer classes, which are good for groups like bachelorette parties. How has business been for you so far?
People are curious about UnCommons—especially, I think, people who live within maybe 10 minutes of it. They’ve seen it going up.
People will come in and mention they’ve seen cars come in and people walking around. Even though we only have three businesses open now, there’s been strong foot traffic. That’s telling.
Especially on the weekends, we get a ton of foot traffic. In terms of people-gathering and connecting, there are similar vibes, I think, with UnCommons and Summerlin or a Town Square, but I really think UnCommons sits in a lane of its own.
Do you offer products online?
Right now, you have to come into the store. On the day after Thanksgiving, we’ll launch the website availability for gifting.
How many people can you get into the speakeasy area for candle-making classes?
We can get 32 people in there. We have classes Friday through Sunday, four classes per weekend. Our schedule is on our website.
For supplies and everything we offer, I always try local suppliers first. I think small business is the heart of commerce, no matter where you are.
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