James H. Dewar and brother George, opened The Chocolate Shop in 1909. The candy store was located at 1665 Chester Avenue in Bakersfield, California, the first door north of the Hall of Records.

Within the next three years, George moved to Taft California.

In 1910 James H. Dewar and Lena B. Yancey married, they had four children, Joseph H., born 1912, James A. born

1914,  Mary Ellen, born 1915 and Rosalind, born 1922. 

 In 1917, James H. Dewar moved his business to 948 Baker Street where it remained until 1928.

While at this location, the three older children attended Washington school at Niles and Baker streets.

The family then moved to Ventura, California for a short time and opened a small store there.

During this brief interlude, Lena’s father, Joe died. Her mother, Rose needed help in Bakersfield and she offered to help build the shop at 1120 Eye Street.

The family accepted the offer and in 1930 Dewar’s Candy Shop opened at its present location at the same time James H. starting making and serving ice cream.

James H. and son’s, Joe and James A. worked together in the business.

 Joe became a cabinet maker and moved to Santa Cruz, California in the 1940’s

Rosalind learned to dip chocolates and continued until her retirement in 2007.

James A. took over the shop in 1947 followed by his son George in 1977.

In 1994 son Michael entered the family business to oversee the manufacturing of the delicious chews Dewar’s is so famous for.
 

In 1999 daughter Heather joined the company with the intention to open a second location for Dewar’s Candy Shop and in December 2001 the second shop was opened at 9530 Hageman Road, Bakersfield,California.

In 2004 the 5th generation began with the arrival of Katie Rose Cook, born May 2004, brother Dylan Dewar Cook, born.

October 2005 and Marley Etcheverry-Dewar, born April 2008.

Today George, Michael and Heather are working to preserve the excellence and tradition that started with James H. Dewar in 1909.