Village Squire, 1980-04, Page 14`l+iverything nice"
The Sugar and Spice, Exeter, offers treats and unique gifts
BY ELAINE TOWNSHEND
If you've got a sweet tooth to soothe, a recipe that calls for a
certain spice or a craving for a new tea or cottee blend, 1 he
Sugar & Spice, 409 Main Street, Exeter, is the place for you.
Cherie Seldon of nearby Elimville opened the store last
October with help from her "silent partner" - husband Paul.
The Seldons wanted a unique store. After looking around, they
discovered a candy shop was one thing Exeter and surrounding
area lacked. To supplement candy, they added various mixtures
of dried fruits and nuts, a variety of coffee beans for blending,
more than 30 different flavours of tea and more than 70 spices, as
well as unique gift ideas.
To capture the atmosphere of an oldtime candy store. Paul and
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"Sugar & Spice" stocks candy that adults haven't seen
since they were kids. (Nhoto by Townsnend)
Pe. 12 VILLAGE SQUIREJAPRIL 1980
Cherie furnished the space with functional antiques. Some were
given to them by friends; others were found in local antique
shops; most had to be repaired and refinished. The Seldons had
only four months to furnish and stock the store, and neither had
experience in the business.
"We just opened the door in October, held our breath and
hoped everything went alright." recalls Cherie.
She has been pleasantly surprised by the store's success.
Many customers say it's what they've been waiting for. The
Sugar & Spice brings back childhood memories for adults and
opens new delights for kids. _
Inside the door to the left is a glass display case that was
originally a jewel case, found in an antique shop in Crediton. The
cabinet now contains a wide selection of dried fruits and nuts.
Next to the cabinet is a large, polished wooden counter, one of
two repaired and refinished by Paul and Cheri; the second one is
at the end of the room in the coffee section. Atop the first counter
sits the cash register which is dated 1915; it was made in Chicago
for a Stratford man, but the Seldons found it in London.
At the end of the counter is another glass display case filled
with chocolates handmade by Reo Thompson of Stratford. Mr.
Thompson is well-known for his delicious chocolates, and Cherie
says he has to return every two weeks to replenish their stock.
Sugar & Spice carries a wide variety including mint smoothies,
solid chocolate with a hint of mint; maple buds, light and dark;
peppermint patties; butter creams; and hard butterscotch
chocolates with almonds inside.
On the wall behind the cabinets and counter are shelves made
by Paul. Each shelf contains glass jars filled with candies, tea
and spices. Some of the jars are reproductions of old styles;
others were made by a neighbour. The latter jars have wooden
lids.
CANDY JARS
The candy jars sit near the front of the store. Each contains
something tempting - toffees, individually wrapped; licorice
sticks; mints, and suckers. Cherie tries to stock unusual candies
that other stores don't have. Also, most of the candy is made in
Canada. For example, Sugar & Spice has three different sizes of
pinwheel suckers, made in Niagara Falls. From Niagara Falls
also comes horehound candy - an old-fashioned candy that many
adults claim they haven't been able to find for years.
Other old favourites are licorice cigars and pipes and
butterscotch buttons that many adults haven't tasted since they
were kids. Cherie imports a few candies, such as butterscotch
suckers from England and Swedish fish and Swedish berries
which are like ju iu's but a little more expensive. The newest
item in candy is teenie beanies imported from Switzerland.
They are similar to jelly beans but smaller and come in as many
as 20 flavours including root beer, chocolate, orange, cinnamon,
spearmint, banana and watermelon.
Kids are an important part of The Sugar & Spice. They come in
with a quarter to buy penny candy that is specially displayed for
them in jars on a low bench in front of the counter.
Cherie laughs, "I used to keep certain jars on the top shelf.
The kids enjoyed seeing me pull out the bench so I could reach
them. They'd want to try one of this and one of that. But 1