Candy store marks 10 years
MECHANICVILLE, N.Y. » It’s quite common to find a part-time elected official who has his or her own business. The work of posting credits and debits each week lets voters feel secure that their leaders aren’t getting loose with the public checkbook.
It’s a little more unusual to find a full-time public official with their own business. And it’s even more so when that business is a candy store. But candy, or rather cooking in general, is town of Halfmoon Supervisor Kevin Tollisen’s passion.
Tollisen and his wife, Rebecca, have owned Park Avenue Confectionary, 219 Park Ave., Mechanicville, for 10 years. On Nov. 4 they were joined by nearly two dozen family and friends, fellow elected officials and the representatives of two chambers of commerce to celebrate that achievement.
“It’s gone by in a blink of an eye,” Rebecca Tollisen said as she stood on the sidewalk in front of the store to cut the Chamber of Southern Saratoga’s traditional anniversary ribbon. “It takes a community to make a business.”
Situated between an oriental restaurant and a title company owned by the law firm of which Kevin Tollisen is a partner, the candy shop, with its front window view of all types of colorfully wrapped sweet delights, is a major draw to that end of the city.
“I’m happy he’s here and getting this type of recognitions,” said Mechanicville Mayor Dennis Baker. “There are a lot of new people in the city that don’t know about this store and they should.”
Inside the narrow store the overhead lights made the colorfully wrapped displays of sweets and candies glow. Packages of chocolate covered raisins were next packages of milk chocolate patties, white chocolate patties, dark chocolate pretzel rods, and chocolate cashew bear claws. On the shelf above, two pound boxes of white and dark chocolate stood next to a box of cherry cordials.
“I helped my grandmother with her pie wagon as a kid,” Kevin Tollisen said as he discussed his love of cooking. “When I was in high school I had a Department of Health licensed kitchen on the first floor of my parents’ house. I’d make all kinds of candy. I’d make peanut butter cups, chocolate covered fruit creams, like raspberry creams or other fits and go around and sell the candies like any other vendor at craft fairs.”
Tollisen said he continued to do it while in college to help pay for his postsecondary schooling and law degree. That desire to cook and his ease around a kitchen never left him. He will tell anyone who asks that he had two careers in mind when growing up, a chef or an attorney. In a way he became both.
“I go into the store’s kitchen now to get away from all the things that are cluttering my mind from my day job,” he said with a big smile. “It’s great. Take a look on that counter. There’s over a 100 chocolate caramel covered apples there that we made for
a wedding on Saturday.”
Tollisen said he and his law partners bought the four story brick building for their offices at 215 Park Avenue 17 years ago. Seven years later they bought the four story brick Gilheany Building for their title company and the candy store.
The store does a brisk business and Tollisen is quick to donate many of its goodies at town functions and gatherings.
“For the town’s Trunk or Treat last Saturday, I brought over 800 candy bars and six bags of the small bars with 180 each,” he said. “We represented the town at the event and every single bar went. We were packed.”
Out on the sidewalk, before the ribbon was cut, state officials or their representatives stepped up and presented the couple with proclamations recognizing their contributions to the greater community.
“It’s just awesome that this shop has been here for 10 years,” said Chamber President Pete Bardunias. “And it’s also awesome that we have so much family here. We congratulate you on bringing this business to the community and hope to return for the 25 year anniversary.”
State Sen. Kathy Marchione, R-Halfmoon, who has known Tollisen since he was a toddler, presented him and Rebecca with a Senate proclamation.
“I agree with Pete, 10 years is an absolute milestone,” she said. “Businesses don’t often last that long. We know the perseverance Rebecca and Kevin have. We know how hard they work and we know how much they give and that’s the recipe for success. Their hearts are in the right place. They love to feed people and they do it well.”