By Jill Nagy
Saratoga Candy Co. in Saratoga Springs, purveyor of peppermint pigs and hand-made chocolates and fudge, is moving this month—a temporary situation because work will start soon on the renovating the Adelphi Hotel on Broadway.
The candy store, around the corner on Washington Street, is attached to the Adelphi.
But the store isn’t moving far—only 32 steps around the corner to 353 Broadway, according to store owner Dawn Oesch.
The building now housing the store, part of the Adelphi Hotel, will be torn down and replaced by a new six-story mixed use building. The new building will include new space for Saratoga Candy Co. The store will have access both from the street and from the hotel.
The move comes at the busiest time of year for the business. In a typical year, Saratoga Candy does about one-third of the year’s business in November and early December, the owner said.
The store has already been filling holiday orders and Oesch would have been happy if the move took place after Christmas. But, she said, “I’m really grateful that they’re including us in their plans.”
The temporary home is a little smaller than the current shop. On the plus side, Oesch said, it will have giant windows at “perfect viewing height for children.”
It will lack a professional kitchen, but Oesch will be able to use the hotel kitchen. Chocolates and fudge are, for the most part, prepared in-house.
Oesch has been in the same space on Washington Street for 24 years.
“It’s mine. I love it,” she said, “It will be bittersweet to leave.” She described her mood as “50 percent excitement, 50 percent sadness.”
Meanwhile, she is packing, “slowly but surely.” With inventory currently 10 times what it is during the rest of the year, including thousands of peppermint pigs, “my house is full.”
Oesch expects to be in the temporary location for about two years while the new building is constructed, including structures connecting the Adelphi and Rip Van Dam hotels and renovation of the Rip Van Dam.
Saratoga Candy Co. ships its wares all over but, Oesch said, “We’re actually more of a local business.”
Local people kept the business going during the COVID lockdown, mainly by ordering online. “There is a lot of love for this little old quirky store,” she said.
Saratoga Candy Co. is online at saratogasweets.com. The phone is 518 580-0499.