From Mines to Market: The Life of Dennis Lee

Dennis Lee – “The Candyman” of Granger

At 3254 West 3100 South stood a small neighborhood treasure known as Lee’s Market — but to the children of Hillsdale Elementary, it was simply “The Candy Store.”

Dennis Lee, the store’s owner, became a beloved figure in the community. Thanks to a crosswalk that ran directly from Hillsdale Elementary to his market, the sidewalks before and after school were often lined with excited children clutching nickels and dimes, eager to trade them for a sack of penny candy.

The shelves were filled with childhood favorites:

• Swedish Fish

• Bubble gum by the yard

• Candy cigarettes

• Hostess pies

• “Bubs Daddy’s”

• And rows and rows of penny candy

To many, Dennis wasn’t just a shopkeeper — he was “The Candyman” — because he sold so much penny candy and always seemed to be there, opening early and closing late to serve his neighborhood.

A Life of Hard Work and Community

Dennis Lee was born in Panguitch, Utah, and married Virginia in 1937. A graduate of Panguitch High School, he was a strong athlete in his youth — captain of his high school basketball team and a track award winner.

Before settling into grocery ownership, he worked in the mines of Nevada and the smelters of Midvale. Eventually, he became a longtime South Jordan resident and opened his Granger grocery store, where he built lasting relationships with families in the area.

He was known as a hardworking man, an avid sportsman, and someone whose vacations centered around outdoor adventures with his family.

Dennis passed away on September 4, 1990 — but for many who grew up in Granger, the memory of walking across that crosswalk with coins in hand remains vivid.