Local Candy Store To Leave Excelsior

Walking into is like stepping back in time. Barrels of taffy fill the space in the middle of the store. Bags of licorice of multiple flavors and colors line the walls—along with suckers and candy from days gone past.

Even the building is 100 years old.

In the front of the store, nuts of different types and coatings stack the counter. That's where you'll find Simply Nuts & More owner Chris Carney.

“I remember the old five and dime stores back when I was a kid,” Carney said. “I’ve always wanted to open a candy store.”

So in 1991 Carney opened up shop, which over the last two decades has come to specialize in fresh nuts and old fashioned candy that today can be hard to find.

“We’re all a little crazy here,” Carney laughed as he described the store’s name.

His customers, Carney said, come regularly to the store and love that it’s right in Excelsior. In the past he has participated in big events like and to interact with current and potential customers alike.

Before opening his business, Carney sold nuts, dried fruit and chocolate at trade shows. Today, he sells the same items online.

As Carney's operation grew, he needed a bigger space, and the candy store was a perfect solution.

“Who doesn’t like a candy store?” Carney exclaimed.

Now, however, the stress of owning a store has caught up to him. Simply Nuts & More will close Dec. 31.

“I’m sad for the kids,” Carney said. “It won’t be a place for them to come and get their candy, but it’s going to be a lot less stress in my life.”

Although little kids are going to lose their candy store, Carney named the things he will have less to worry about: ordering candy, booking shows and payroll.

His other main stressor is what he describes as high taxes in Excelsior.

Instead of a store, Carney has decided to move into a 4,000p-square-foot warehouse with about three employees. Instead of Excelsior, he will be in Chanhassen. He will also continue to do trade shows, and he will still sell nuts and fruit online.

Carney doesn’t expect an interruption to filling online orders. Much of what he will need in the warehouse he has already moved.

Carney did admit that he will miss his happy customers, but he’s also come to terms with moving on.

“It was a good run,” he said.

Until the end of the year candy is on sale: buy one, get one free.