Saving the Easter Bunny: Delco candy stores hop to the rescue
NEWTOWN » Easter Sunday 2020 will no doubt be extremely different than any Easter in the past, due to residents being confined to their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Locally, in-person Easter Sunday masses and services at local churches have already been cancelled and will, instead, be streamed online. Buying a new Easter outfit is likely the furthest thing from most people’s minds because they won’t leave their house so there is little need to dress up - plus retail stores have been closed for weeks.
With Easter Egg hunts and Easter Bunny Breakfasts cancelled throughout the area due to the pandemic, some exasperated parents may have contemplated plans to tell their children that the Easter Bunny couldn’t come this year because he, too, is in quarantine. However, there’s no need to cancel the wonder and excitement of Easter morning on April 12. Even with all that is going on in the world, children, and adults alike, can still uphold the timeless tradition of finding a basket full of treats left by the Easter Bunny.
Delaware County’s candy stores have come to the rescue, offering a wide variety of Easter treats that will surely bring smiles to everyone’s faces, accentuate Easter celebrations, and uphold beloved traditions,
“We’ve devised all kinds of ways for people to get their Easter candy, easily and safely, this year,” Christopher Lamparelli, owner of Christopher Chocolates, 3519 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, said this week. “And we have the same large and varied selection of chocolates and other Easter candy that our customers have always gotten here.”
Christopher Chocolates’ doors are still open for business, but customers are limited in number inside the store for safe social distancing. For those who would rather call in their order, they can arrange curbside pickup which will be brought out to them when they get there.
Customers can also pay in advance by credit card, call from the parking lot and their order will be left outside by the door for them, making the transaction contactless.
Orders are also being taken for shipping. A full menu of Easter candy, including Christopher’s famous own-made premium filled fancy chocolate eggs, personalized and custom chocolate eggs, chocolate bunnies and much more, is available at www.christopher-chocolates.com.
“Putting a full menu online is really helping customers choose which candies they want before calling in their orders for pick-up or shipping,” the owner said. “Perusing the menu beforehand will even shorten customer’s time inside here if they decide to come into the store.”
Due to the unusual situation this year, Christopher Chocolates is offering a flat rate of $5 USPS shipping in the tri-state area. Shipping rates for other areas vary by distance and size.
Lamparelli, who said Easter is the candy store’s second biggest sale season, lagging only slightly behind Christmas, advises customers to order as early as possible to prevent getting caught in the last minute rush. He said the Christmas and Easter seasons combined make up 60 percent of the store’s total business.
The candy store owner said he’s grateful that Gov. Tom Wolf allowed specialty food stores like candy stores to remain open. With most Easter candy school fundraisers cancelled because of school closures, many Pennsylvania candy stores, especially those in Central Pennsylvania which depend on the school drives for essential revenue, would not have been able to survive without the governor’s dispensation.
In the coming weeks, the store will be open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Saturday, rather than its previous longer hours, to allow the store staff the extra time to process the shipping orders.
“Whether they come in to get their candy, pick it up curbside, or get it delivered, customers can expect to get the same premium quality handmade Christopher Chocolate that they’ve always been accustomed to enjoying,” Lamparelli said.
Across the county, at Kelly’s Kandy & Nuts, 312 MacDade Blvd., Collingdale, the chocolate eggs, bunnies and other Easter season novelties are fresh and ready for children’s Easter baskets as well. Customers can call ahead with an order or order through Kelly’s website, www. kellyskandy.com, where there are photos of featured candies and more added daily.
According to Kandy Hughes, daughter of owner Dale Sheehan, the store was ready to open its second location at 11 N. Five Points Road, West Chester last Saturday, but changed plans because of the current COVID-19 pandemic situation. However, those in the area of the new location, can still get Kelly’s Kandy treats in time for Easter by ordering ahead from the Collingdale
store which is offering Easter shipping promotions.
All orders under $100 will be shipped for a flat rate of $12. The store is offering free shipping for all orders over $100.
When someone calls over the phone, there will always be several sales staff on the floor— at a safe distance apart, of course - to walk the customer through the store to help them shop. Customers can also go on the “Kelly’s Kandy” Facebook page where store staff will often take viewers on Facebook Live tours to see the store’s inventory and get ideas. In addition to their handmade eggs, bunnies, jelly beans, marshmallow peeps and other Easter candy.
Kelly’s, which has been a Delaware County favorite for almost half of a century, features a wide variety of customer favorites like their famous chocolate covered pretzels and chips. Kelly’s Kandy will personalize eggs at no extra cost.
“We have the same premium variety of candy that we’ve always had,” Hughes said. “The only difference this year will be how we will get it to you, whether it’s callahead pick-up or delivery.”
The store is open for curbside pick-up Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A selection of Kelly’s Kandy Easter chocolates and other candy can also be purchased at Linvilla Orchards in Middletown.
Delaware County’s county seat is home of another mecca of Easter candy. Bevan’s Own Make Candy in Media has been filling Easter baskets for more than 60 years, and this year is no different. In fact, getting Bevan’s candies in time for Easter has never been easier. Like the other candy stores, Bevan’s is offering convenient and safe curbside pick-up. People can call ahead to place their order and then call the store when they are outside for contactless pick-up. Customers can also visit the store’s website www. bevansownmakecandy.com and browse or take a virtual tour of the store. They can also follow the store on Facebook and Instagram to get ideas on what they wish to put in their family’s Easter baskets.
Owner Randy Bevan said customers are still welcome to come into the store, but the store is monitoring the numbers, allowing only one or two customers at a time to keep a safe distance between them. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday.
“Easter is our second biggest season of the year,” Bevan said. “I hope our customers will still support us. We are trying to make getting our candy as convenient and easy as possible.”
The owner said Bevan’s Own Make Candy is also available at Elwyn Pharmacy and Wolff’s Apple House in Middletown.
Another source for Easter candy in the County is The Head Nut, 2408 Haverford Road, Haverford. Not only does the store carry a wide selection of Easter candy, jelly beans and Asher’s Chocolates, but it also features a variety of candy alternatives for baskets like nuts, coffees, teas and more.
“We’re still open, but we are limiting customers to ten and under at a time,” said Assistant Manager Lee Molineux II, son of owner Lee Molineux Sr. “We are also doing internet sales through our website, www.theheadnut. com. There is no shortage of candy here. We have a large selection in our store for in-person purchasing and to fill online sales.”
Molineux said that the store, which opened shortly after World War II, is like all the other candy stores in the area in that Easter is its second-busiest candy season. The store is open, 8 a.m. to
7 p.m., Monday to Friday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday. Customers who want their orders shipped will have a choice between USPS and UPS service.
To reach Christopher Chocolates in Newtown Square, call
610-359-1669. To reach Bevan’s Own Make Candy in Media, call
610-566-0581. To reach Kelly’s Kandy & Nuts in Collingdale, call 610-461-4676. To reach the Head Nut in Ardmore, call 610642-3066.