Before there were Gertrude Hawk and Lindt chocolate outlets
in what seems like every mall and shopping center, many communities had their
own, family-owned candy shops.
Some are still here, fortunately: Places like Speach Family Candy Shoppe on Syracuse’s North Side, Hercules Candy Company in East Syracuse and Stone’s Homemade Candy in Oswego.
I’ve strolled and driven by Stone’s many times while in Oswego. Last week, on a trip to the Port City and on a lark, I stopped in.
At lunchtime on a snowy weekday, the shop was deserted. The display cases offered fudge, chunk chocolate, chocolate barks (milk, dark chocolate, white chocolate with pecans), graham cracker s’mores, Rice Krispie treats, chocolate nut clusters, chocolate-covered potato chips, dark chocolate and white chocolate patties (in peanut, coconut, cashew or raisin, for all of $1.35).
A tray holding sea salt caramels was empty – probably a blessing in disguise.
The cases also held a multitude of hand-made, chocolate
Easter eggs with a variety of cream fillings – coconut cream, maple cream,
vanilla cream, peanut butter cream. The shop brimmed with Easter baskets
wrapped in cellophane and tied with pretty ribbons, filled with molded
chocolate bunnies and other treats for those ready to hop to it.
According to the National Retail Federation, Americans will
spend an average of $145.13 on Easter candy, clothing and decor. We won’t come
close. The last thing our two-person household needs is a surplus of Peeps,
malted milk eggs, foil-wrapped chocolate eggs and jelly beans.
I did “splurge’’ on four of Stone’s Easter eggs (two coconut cream and two maple), which cost less than $6 – and would have cost even less if I didn’t opt for the decorated ones. I can’t speak for the coconut cream eggs, but the maple cream eggs didn’t make it to Palm Sunday.
There are fancier chocolate shops than Stone’s in Central New York, like Lune Chocolat in Manlius, Sweet on Chocolate in Syracuse’s Armory Square and Meyer’s Chocolates (Clinton and Camden). Visit them when you’re craving gourmet.
Go to Stone’s when you’re craving something sweet – with a
taste of nostalgia, too. Like the French Creams – bite-sized crystallized sugar
candies (mint and fruit flavors) with a smooth and creamy center, done up in
Easter colors.
“They melt in your mouth,’’ the cashier said.
Stone’s Homemade Candy (and Ice Cream; in season) is at 145 W. Bridge St., Oswego. Info.: 315-343-8401.
Comments