ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Valentine’s Day brings love and a flurry of activity to local businesses in Rochester. Stever’s Candies on Park Avenue is no exception. News10NBC’s Declan Stablow visited the shop to see how the holiday impacts business.
Kevin Brocht, manager of Stever’s Candies, shared that Valentine’s Day is one of their busiest times of the year, with preparations starting months in advance. “Yesterday we couldn’t keep up we were very busy,” Brocht said.
Brocht noted that many of his customers are last-minute shoppers, often using the weather as an excuse. “A lot of guys wait till the last minute and, but this last week, especially the last three days, considering we had that cold come through, kind of knocked last weekend off,” he explained.
Inside Stever’s, Declan Stablow met Kaitlin Lu and Hayden Naetzker, who were celebrating their first Valentine’s Day since getting engaged. Kaitlin remarked on the shop’s charm: “I really love how, like, cute and cozy it is in here. It definitely is very whimsical. It gives like Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory for sure.”
The couple offered advice for lasting relationships. “Don’t stress about the small stuff. And make sure to say I love you as much as possible,” they advised. “Literally every time we hang up off the phone with each other, we say, I love you because you never know. Life is crazy. You never know when it’s going to be the last time.”
Brocht highlighted some of Stever’s best sellers, including their seasonal specialty, sponge candy. “It’s very humidity sensitive. So we could only make it during cooler, drier winter months, usually through Mother’s Day. And once it gets warm and humid out, we can’t make it anymore,” he said.
When asked about unsold Valentine’s Day candy, Brocht explained, “Because we use pure milk and pure dark chocolate, most of it can go through the tempering stage and get turned into something else.” For any candy that can’t be reused, Brocht mentioned that the staff enjoys eating it, ensuring nothing goes to waste.
Brocht also shared his love for decorating the shop for the holiday season, adding to the festive atmosphere.
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