Sweets coming to Main Street

Sassy Chocolates had a vision for Cathlamet’s Main Street, and when Sinful Sweets heard about it, they wanted in too. The two businesses, each run by couples with school age children, decided to share space at 90 Main Street, when it became available recently.

Janelle West and Sara Robinson are co-owners of Sassy Chocolates, and with their husbands, are opening a chocolate shop on Cathlamet’s Main Street. Like the candy shops in Long Beach, passers-by and customers will be able to see them making chocolates.

When the women decided to open a shop, prospective customers asked if the shop would serve pastry. Enter Lisa and Justin Watkins, who formed Sinful Sweets, and plan to open from six until 10 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday, serving pastries, including cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting. They have a pecan pie that is amazing, Robinson said.

Sassy Chocolates will be open from one until 6:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. “We have to see how it goes,” West said. West and Robinson started making and selling chocolates last year. Robinson, who is the chocolatier, went to France as an 18-year old and fell in love with the treats in store windows.

Sassy Chocolates will sell truffles, caramel-dipped applies, chocolate-covered Twinkies, taffy, chocolate-covered pretzels and ice cream. Sinful Sweets is offering pastries, turnovers, and small pies. Both plan to offer sugar-free treats. Robinson said she’d like to offer chocolate-making classes.

Each of the couples has children, and the business began with “something we could do at home,” Robinson said. The business is more of a joy,” she said. “It’s so easy to make chocolate, I don’t know why more people don’t do it. I want to make crazy things. Like salted caramel, or chocolate with cayenne or maybe chocolate with a little piece of bacon on top.”

As Robinson and West began selling truffles and bonbons to family and friends and getting more orders, through word of mouth and the Internet, they began to think about having a retail presence. At present they’re selling chocolates through ‘Tis the Season, also on Main Street. “They were calling us every week for more,” West said.

It got so big, we had to get a shop or close.”

West, who is the business manager and marketer, has pushed the group to take advantages of opportunities, like the Main Street storefront opening, or by increasing production. West began using Facebook, a social networking website and has built a steady stream of orders. West exceeded her February sales goal of $600. West, who taste-tests for Robinson sometimes, doesn’t like chocolate. She said, “It’s okay.”

Lisa Watkins searches things out on Craig’s list for the business. “Her bargaining skills are fantastic,” Robinson said. Justin Watkins, whose parents both had culinary arts training, is the baker. He’s been baking for as long as I’ve known him, said Lisa Watkins. He will make special orders on request.

“It’s a scary time to be opening a business, with the way things are going,” Robinson said. “But this is our passion.” The business is planning an official opening, ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon on Saturday.