The Red Berry Candy Store moves to new, nearby location in Madison Village - The News-Herald
Published by: The News-Herald
By Bill DeBus
Original Article found here
The Red Berry Candy Store in Madison Village has relocated, but it didn’t go far.
In fact, the store only moved next door.
Red Berry is now based at 3096 Hubbard Road. The building is immediately north of the original store at the intersection of Middle Ridge Road.
Red Berry, which will mark its 21st anniversary in December, carries more than 2,500 different types of candy.
The store also has become known for its fun and friendly atmosphere created by owner Candy Nichols. She enjoys chatting with customers of all ages.
“I’m a people person,” Candy said. Red Berry began operating at 3096 Hubbard on July 26. With the move, the shop has gained an abundance of additional space for displaying and storing its vast selection of sweet treats.
“The new building is at least twice as large,” she said.
Red Berry now occupies the building that formerly housed the Cornhole Illuminated Co. That business, owned by Nichols’ son Jay Nichols, produced customized wooden and lighted cornhole boards.
However, Jay closed that operation because of personal circumstances. At that point, Candy said she began thinking about what to do with the building.
She eventually decided to renovate the structure into a larger Red Berry Candy Store. Candy’s plan for her original shop at 3098 Hubbard is to transform it into the new production building for her Heavenly Safe Chocolates business.
In 2022, she opened Heavenly Safe Chocolates at 50 W. Main St. in Madison Village. The business uses an on-site kitchen to produce solid dark chocolate and dark-chocolate treats that are free of the top 13 allergens; gluten free; vegan; and non-GMO — which means not created with genetic engineering.
At first, Heavenly Safe Chocolates sold products to walk-in customers at the Madison Village location. But now, the site is used strictly for production, as Candy decided to sell the chocolates to on-site shoppers at Red Berry.
Candy said it will be much more convenient to have the Heavenly Safe Chocolates production building based next door. Renovation of the original store is still taking place.
It took about five months to transform the former Cornhole Illuminated Co. site, Candy said. The project included installation of new flooring, walls and ceiling, doors, and windows.
Candy said her husband, Jerry Nichols, played a key role in performing many of the building improvements. Professional contractors also were hired for upgrades such as a new electrical system and installing a new furnace.
Transferring all of Red Berry’s inventory ended up being a family project, Candy said.
After Candy closed the original Red Berry at 8 p.m. July 25, her children, along with their kids and some nieces and nephews, teamed up to move all the products into the new store.
“They all got about four hours of sleep that night,” she said.
At 10 a.m. the next day, the Red Berry opened for its first day of business at the new site.
Walking through the Red Berry and viewing the products assembled on tables, racks and in display cases is like a treasure hunt for lovers of candy and other sweets.
“There’s something for everyone,” Candy said.Chocolate items range from Cadbury candy bars and chocolate “coins” wrapped in gold foil to chocolate-coated cordial cherries and caramel bunnies that can be packaged in various quantities.
Red Berry also sells Dubai chocolates, which have become very popular.
“Right now, you can’t keep them in stock,” she said. “We also have Dubai truffles.”
Customers also can choose from items such as cotton candy, salt water taffy, licorice, freeze-dried candy and Jelly Belly jelly beans.
Candy said opening the new Red Berry store is definitely a major highlight of the two decades she’s spent in the candy business.
“I’m 72,” she said. “I could retire if I wanted to, but I’m on a new adventure.”