Amy's Candy Bar
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 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | |
| Founded | Chicago, Illinois, United States (June 2011) |
| Founder | Amy Hansen |
| Headquarters | , United States |
Number of locations | 1 |
| Website | amyscandybar |
Amy's Candy Bar is a confectionery store located in Chicago. The store was opened in June 2011 and is owned by Amy Hansen, a graduate of Chicago's French Pastry School. The store is well known for its caramels which are made in house. The store has been recognized by Food & Wine and was also featured on the talk show Steve Harvey.
The store's owner, Amy Hansen, graduated from Chicago's French Pastry School at Kennedy-King College in 2006.[1] Hansen had worked in various positions in the marketing industry until 2010, after being laid-off, when she began planning to open a candy store.[2][3] Hansen was able to obtain a grant from the Small Business Improvement Fund from the Chicago city government in addition to a small business loan to assist with starting costs and redesigning the interior.[3] In June 2011, the store opened at its present location along Damen Avenue in the Ravenswood neighborhood. The store was designed to appear as a European-style boutique, which is reflected in the glass jars lining the walls that store the various products.[4]
Products
Amy's Candy Bar carries a variety of chocolate, gummies, and licorice products,[5] and sells over 200 different candies.[6] While products are generally domestic, many sweets are imported from various parts of Europe such as Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands.[3][7] In addition, Amy's Candy Bar also carries caramels and nougat that are made by Hansen.[8] The recipe for the homemade caramels and its other varieties was inspired from the French Pastry School, and consists of a butter from Europe, sea salt, glucose, organic cream, and vanilla bean.[9] The caramels are considered to be a highlight of the establishment.[5][9]
The store also features a selection of ice cream[10] and can also provide customized baked goods[5] such as sugar cookies and cupcakes.[11]
