Stores that sell an assortment of candy, plush stuffed animals
or dozens roses were filled with people scouring for last-minute
gifts. Valentine’s Day is the busiest time of the year and despite
the heightened unemployment rate and teetering economy, stores in
Hollister were kept busy with a constant stream of customers.
For some specialty stores, Feb. 14 is a day to circle on the calendar in big red ink.
Stores that sell an assortment of candy, plush stuffed animals or dozens roses were filled with people scouring for last-minute gifts. Valentine’s Day is the busiest time of the year and despite the heightened unemployment rate and teetering economy, stores in Hollister were kept busy with a constant stream of customers.
At DeBrito Chocolate Factory, customers started flowing in once the doors opened at 8 a.m., employee Erika Torres said. Most people came to grab either chocolate-covered apricots or apples.
“People were already waiting when I got here at 8 (a.m.),” she said, as five customers were looking through assorted chocolates in the store’s small confines.
The store didn’t have a special Valentine’s Day candy, but it was covered in red and pink. Also available were a chocolate assortment in baskets that had an increase in orders over the past week.
But the biggest change at the store was simply more product.
“We double what we usually make at this time of the year,” Torres said.
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All of the DeBrito chocolate is made by hand, so the week leading up to the holiday is just as busy, she said.
“That’s what makes us great,” she said. “Everything is made by hand.”
Customers constantly walked through the front doors, looking at the covered apples and wandering around the store.
Hollister resident Albert Ramirez bought four apples for his loved ones, simply because it’s the “best chocolate in the world”
“I come here every year because it really good,” he said. “It’s handmade and that’s the difference. It’s fresh and they take their time making it.”
A couple of Santa Nella residents made the trip to the store because the candy was the “perfect gift.”
“It is well worth the trip,” Gloria Lawson said. Her friend Heather Garza was looking for some additional candy.
Across San Felipe Road, Marich Confectionary was celebrating the holiday in a similar way, but with timely heart-shaped chocolates and its new licorice product Black Heart. The small store was adorned with red and pink. Hearts and candy covered the walls, and a Valentine’s Day centerpiece was placed near the doorway.
The store was hoping to go full bore for the holiday, Sweet Shop worker Kristen Wynn said.
“We want to celebrate the holiday by upping the ante,” she said.
To go along with the new candy and the decorations, the confectionary was wrapping purchases in Valentine’s Day bags for free.
The store was also celebrating the day by offering a gift basket on CBS’ “Lets Make A Deal” on Monday night.
But most of the store’s interest stemmed from the new products.
Over the past week the store had received a 20 percent increase in foot traffic because of their new product, she said.
“Over the past week we’ve been really busy,” she said.
Around 11 a.m. Monday, it had just one customer, but it had already received pickup orders later in the day and Wynn expected more to come after work.
“I think being in the industrial area will help,” she said. “I expect more people will come right after they get off work.”
At Precious Petals flower shop, the holiday interest was a little down with 150 flower orders – normally they have 200 to 300 orders, employee Claudia Narvaez said. But the store was prepared for more orders with around 2,000 roses in stock.
To mark the occasion, the store was offering a vase and roses package through Teleflora and had red hearts scattered throughout the building.
Regardless of the number of orders, it was a busy week and day for the business, Narvaez said.
“We started preparing for today almost a week ago,” she said.
Preparing included cleaning the roses, organizing the vases and getting early orders ready. To prepare for the increase in business, Precious Petals was open over the weekend to send out early flowers.
And of course, it’s a busy day for area restaurants. At Cafe Ella, the business planned a five-course dinner. Owner Ella King noted in the afternoon, following a busy lunch, how the dinner was “almost booked” and she described the atmosphere as “bedazzled right now with a whole bunch of red and pink.”
“Food is so comforting,” King said. “When you spend money, it’s good to get some wonderful comfort food.”
Editor Kollin Kosmicki contributed to this report.
