Copyright Hartford Courant
The new candy store fits right in. It’s on bustling Bank Street, not far from the New Milford town green, a place where custom-made chocolates, cookies and other sweets abound. It is owned by Jo Robbins, who first opened Jamie’s Sweet Shop, named after her daughter, in the 1990s, and for the last five years ran the store on Route 202 in Northville. Before that, Jamie’s was located on East Main Street in Torrington. She says the new location is even better. “I’ve always made candy and ice cream, and when we moved from Harwinton to New Milford about five years ago, I opened on Route 202,” she said. When an opportunity to move to busier Bank Street came up, Robbins was ready to make the move. “A woman who works at William Raveis Real Estate met me at the sweet shop in Northville, and there was a space available on Bank Street, and it happened rather quickly this summer,” she said. “We moved the shop in 10 days. So, here we are.” Her husband Andy, an aircraft mechanic, helped get the store up and running by building new display shelving and painting the interior bright white with some pale mint-green walls. The resulting space was perfect for Robbins’ candy baskets, two glass cases filled with popular chocolates, and sweet and tasty gifts for multiple occasions, she said. The sweet shop is decorated for Halloween, and there are plenty of treats to choose for that holiday. In the back, Robbins has a small kitchen where she makes her chocolates, filling orders for wedding favors and other special requests. The selection of candy runs the gamut from nostalgic to indulgent. There are hard-candy sticks, Pop Rocks and Nerds, gum and Pez, as well as lollipops, chocolate covered pretzels and M&Ms. Mugs and baskets filled with sweets are wrapped in cellophane and tied with a bow. Online reviewers love Robbins’ creations. “They have a very delicious selection, and something for all occasions,” one said. “What a gem of a chocolate shop,” said another Little bags of dark, milk or white chocolate dipped Oreos are decorated for Halloween, displayed near cellophane-wrapped chunks of fudge: milk and dark chocolate, peanut butter and vanilla. Gummies, Skittles and candy corn can be purchased in child-sized bags for about $3, or in larger quantities. In the glass cases, chocolates with caramel, coconut, nuts and other fillings are sold by the pound. Robbins’ extra-large nonpareils come in milk or dark chocolate with sprinkles in fall colors. Cordials, jellied chocolates with raspberry filling, marzipan fruit-shaped sweets, caramel marshmallows dipped in chocolate, and nut clusters can be chosen by the piece or the box. Robbins makes many of the chocolates, and offers a selection of Asher candies, a Pennsylvania-based brand. Gift ideas are plentiful in the shop, and include stuffed animals, jewelry, occasion cards and decorative items. Robbins said she’s very happy to be in her new location, because she’s right in the middle of things. New Milford holds a block party on Thursdays, inviting residents to visit Main, Bank and Railroad streets for shopping, music and entertainment. A Halloween celebration on the New Milford green, set for the weekend, will also draw plenty of people downtown, she said. “It’s going very well,” she said. “People come in regularly for things and because of the things happening in town, people always stop in.” As the fall celebrations approach, Robbins said, she’s also getting ready for Christmas. “The holidays are huge – I’m extremely busy filling orders and selling in the shop,” she said. “I already have orders for baskets, which we ship out or hand-deliver. “When customers come in with their kids, they always want to pick things out themselves,” she said. “I try to have stuff the kids like.” The merchants on Bank Street have also been very welcoming, she said. “I’ve met other people who work on Bank Street and they’ve come in to introduce themselves,” she said. “Merchants meet monthly to plan the Rock the Block events, and so we get to know each other. “Mayor Pete Bass came to visit too, and we had a grand opening with a special ceremony to welcome us,” Robbins said. “It’s been great. I’m very happy here.”
