MILLERTON — People hankering for sweets in the village have to look no further than 28 Main St., where Millerton Card & Candy opened Sunday.
The shop is an offshoot of Millerton Market (also on Main Street), which is owned by Robin Helfand.
The owner was quick to point out a Pixy Stix machine near the shop’s entrance.
Fans of sweets can put their own spin on the sticks by filling plastic tubes with any combination of 12 flavors of powder.
"It’s like sand art," Helfand explained. "This is the number-one selling candy at Disney World and the kids love it. Plus, it’s fat-free."
"And it’s not messy," added Rachel Reeve, store manager.
Helfand pointed to a large display that holds 21 colors of M&M’s.
"This is my personal favorite," she said.
The shop plans to supply local high school teams with gift bags in festive colors; for example, green and gold M&Ms for Webutuck, or maroon and grey for Indian Mountain School.
"Or blue and gold for Housy," said Reeve, referring to Housatonic Valley Regional High School in Connecticut.
"And you can do Easter colors. It’s pretty much for every occasion," added Sherry Miles, sales associate.
Since last August, Helfand researched the most popular types of candy in this area, as well as the country.
They came up with a mix they said will satisfy both young and old.
"For the kids, we have giant gummy snakes. Some of them are about six feet long once you stretch them out," said Helfand, pulling on a rubbery reptile. "We also have favorites like Pop Rocks and lollipops."
Baby boomers can buy candies they enjoyed during their childhood.
The shop carries a full selection of old-time favorites, such as Zagnuts, Abba Zabbas and Cow Tails.
"We have a lot of contrast," Helfand said.
Millerton Card & Candy has "all the holidays covered," as the owner put it, with Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter candy.
The shop tapped into the international candy market, as well, with Hello Kitty candy from Korea and decadent chocolate from France and Italy.
Helfand said she wanted the decor of the shop to mimic the penny candy shops of yore.
She was inspired by a trio that is particularly close to her.
"My three children, Allie, Jesse and Drew, helped design the store," she said. "We tried to capture the feel of the old candy shops."
Millerton Card & Candy is in close proximity to the Harlem Valley Rail Trail head, also on Main Street.
Helfand plans to capitalize on foot traffic by offering healthy snacks like granola, trail mix, dried apricots and crystallized ginger.
A line of beverages includes hot chocolate, espresso and soft drinks.
In the past, the only place one could get a Slush Puppy on a hot summer day was North East Rexall.
However, the pharmacy closed last November.
Millerton Card and Candy now carries Slushy Puppy flavors as well as a new additive, called "Shocker," that turns the icy drink sour.
When the store opened this past Sunday, the first sale was a heart-shaped box of Valentine’s Day chocolates.
The purchase was commemorated with a dollar taped up on a wall behind the shop’s register.
Helfand plans to develop the space that abuts the candy shop into a place where shoppers can buy cards or make their own, as well as decorate cupcakes.
Moving the "ice cream operation" from Millerton Market to that space is also a possibility, she said.
Helfand and associates have found that business has been good, even though the store currently has no signage ("look for the balloons outside," she said).
The store is particularly busy when Webutuck Elementary School students get off the bus around 3 p.m.
"All the kids come from the schools and are delighted," she said.
Ellen Eschbach, who works in the Alumni and Parent Programs Office at The Hotchkiss School, stopped in the shop to buy some Valentine’s Day sweets this past Monday.
"This is great! The selection is amazing," she said.
The owner said the shop fills a community need; the closest candy shops are in Poughkeepsie or Great Barrington.
Helfand also hustled to get the store up and running before yesterday’s holiday so people could buy gifts for their sweetheart.
"That was very important," she said.
Millerton Card & Candy is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days per week.
