Rural Missouri - February 2021 - 12

Candy shop saves
Valentine's Day
for decades
by Paul Newton | pnewton@ruralmissouri.coop

T

he inside of the quaint downtown candy shop
catches your nose as soon as you step through
the doors. The distinct aromas of caramel, chocolate and other sweet treats might guide you to the
chocolate case featuring a variety of homemade handdipped chocolate items and fudge. Or maybe to the bagged
candy and popcorn.
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most pronounced aroma. Fresh candy is being cooked in a
copper kettle, with owners Kelly Stover and Angela Wiechens tending to the concoctions being carefully stirred and
heated to just the perfect temperature.
Kelly and Angela own Riverside Sweets in the middle
of the historic district in downtown St. Charles. Known
for homemade chocolates and candies, the storefront has
EHHQDPDLQVWD\LQ0LVVRXUL·VÀUVWFDSLWDOFLW\VLQFH.HOO\·V
parents, Jim and Kathy Brown, opened it in 1999.
Kelly was a teenager when her parents started the store
so has been around it from the beginning. Angela has been
at Riverside Sweets for a dozen years. " When they were
talking about selling it last year, Kelly and I got to talking
and we couldn't imagine having new bosses, " Angela says.
" We've both got families with kids and busy lives, but we
SXWRXUKHDGVWRJHWKHUWRÀQGDZD\WRPDNHWKLVZRUN
and take over ourselves. "
" We've got customers who have been coming here on
The pair was met with a sinister April Fools' joke as
Valentine's Day for at least 15 years, " Kelly says. " We know
WKH\RIÀFLDOO\WRRNRYHURQ$SULO³MXVWDIHZ
them by name when they call or stop in. "
weeks after life changed for everyone, especially smallA new customer favorite that the duo will be featurbusiness owners. " We had to try and make money without
ing this month is their hot chocolate bombs. They take
our doors being open, " Angela says. " We started a website,
cocoa powder and marshmallows and place them inside a
free porch delivery, shipping and curbside as the weather
homemade hollow chocolate ball. " You put it in a mug and
got better. "
pour hot milk over it and it makes a great hot chocolate, "
7KH\ZHDWKHUHGWKHVWRUPDQGVWLOOVDWLVÀHG
Angela says.
their customers' sweet tooths before welcomOther seasonal specialties at Christmas might
ing customers in their store in mid-May.
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Riverside Sweets has items that are popular
homemade turtles or one of their most popular
year round, but sometimes it's the weather or
St. Charles
bagged candy combinations, turtle corn. Still hot,
upcoming holiday that brings people in the front
just-made caramel is poured over freshly popped
door. This time of year, the pair are gearing up
popcorn. Finally milk chocolate is sprinkled
for a busy Valentine's Day season.
over the top.
The main attraction in February is Riverside's
Kelly does the cooking over the kettle with
chocolate-covered strawberries.
Angela by her side making sure everything goes
" We don't put preservatives on the strawberries,
smoothly. That commitment is what has kept the business
so we're making them fresh every day, " Angela says. " So
popular over the course of two decades, according to Kelly.
when the customers pick them up, they know they were
" Our candy is handmade, not made in a factory and
made that morning. "
shipped out everywhere, " she says. " It's a really highThe fresh berries are hand-dipped in a temperaturequality chocolate and we don't use any preservatives in
FRQWUROOHGERZOÀOOHGZLWKHLWKHUPLONGDUNRUZKLWH
the candy we make. We make it often to keep it fresh; it's
chocolate. The berries are dried and boxed for the perfect
never sitting on a shelf forever. "
Valentine's Day surprise.

12

RURAL MISSOURI | FEBRUARY 2021



Rural Missouri - February 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rural Missouri - February 2021

Contents
Rural Missouri - February 2021 - Cover1
Rural Missouri - February 2021 - Cover2
Rural Missouri - February 2021 - Contents
Rural Missouri - February 2021 - 4
Rural Missouri - February 2021 - 5
Rural Missouri - February 2021 - 6
Rural Missouri - February 2021 - 7
Rural Missouri - February 2021 - 8
Rural Missouri - February 2021 - 9
Rural Missouri - February 2021 - 10
Rural Missouri - February 2021 - 11
Rural Missouri - February 2021 - 12
Rural Missouri - February 2021 - 13
Rural Missouri - February 2021 - 14
Rural Missouri - February 2021 - 15
Rural Missouri - February 2021 - 16
Rural Missouri - February 2021 - 17
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Rural Missouri - February 2021 - 19
Rural Missouri - February 2021 - 20
Rural Missouri - February 2021 - 21
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Rural Missouri - February 2021 - 28
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Rural Missouri - February 2021 - 33
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Rural Missouri - February 2021 - 40
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Rural Missouri - February 2021 - 45
Rural Missouri - February 2021 - 46
Rural Missouri - February 2021 - Cover3
Rural Missouri - February 2021 - Cover4
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