Amy's Candy Bar
{{Short description|Confectionery store in Chicago, Illinois}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Amy's Candy Bar
| logo = AmysCandyBarLogo.png
| type = Private
| industry = {{ubl|Confectioneries|Baked goods}}
| foundation = Chicago, Illinois, United States ({{Start date|2011|06}})
| founder = Amy Hansen
| successor =
| location_city = Chicago
| location_country = United States
| locations = 1
| products =
| homepage = {{URL|https://amyscandybar.com/}}
}}
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.
History
The store's owner, Amy Hansen, graduated from Chicago's French Pastry School at Kennedy-King College in 2006.{{cite web|title=Amy's Candy Bar from graduate, Amy Hansen '06, Featured in Chicago Talks|url=http://www.frenchpastryschool.com/press-release/amys-candy-bar-graduate-amy-hansen-06-featured-chicago-talks|work=The French Pastry School of Kennedy-King College|accessdate=29 July 2013}} 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.{{cite web|last=Wetli|first=Patty|title=Coming Soon: Amy's Candy Bar|url=http://www.centersquarejournal.com/news/coming-soon-amys-candy-bar|work=Center Square Journal|publisher=Center Square Journal, Inc..|accessdate=29 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407132027/http://www.centersquarejournal.com/news/coming-soon-amys-candy-bar|archive-date=7 April 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last=Sanchez |first=Angelica |title=Around Lincoln Square: The Sweet Touch Of Amy's Candy Bar |url=http://www.chicagotalks.org/2012/10/21/amys-candy-bar/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025052729/http://www.chicagotalks.org/2012/10/21/amys-candy-bar/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 October 2012 |work=Chicagotalks |accessdate=29 July 2013 }} 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. 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.{{cite web|last=Tamarkin|first=David|title=Amy's Candy Bar to set up shop in Ravenswood|url=http://www.timeoutchicago.com/restaurants-bars/14733137/amys-candy-bar-to-set-up-shop-in-ravenswood|work=TimeOut Chicago|publisher=Time Out Chicago Partners LLLP|accessdate=29 July 2013}}
Products
Amy's Candy Bar carries a variety of chocolate, gummies, and licorice products, and sells over 200 different candies.{{cite web|last=Quinlan|first=Christine|title=5 best new candy shops|url=http://travel.yahoo.com/ideas/5-best-new-candy-shops-012927232.html|work=Food & Wine|accessdate=1 August 2013}} While products are generally domestic, many sweets are imported from various parts of Europe such as Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands.{{cite web|title=International selections|url=http://www.amyscandybar.com/candy/international/|work=Amy's Candy Bar|accessdate=30 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914073337/http://www.amyscandybar.com/candy/international/|archive-date=14 September 2013|url-status=dead}} In addition, Amy's Candy Bar also carries caramels and nougat that are made by Hansen.{{cite web|last=Todd|first=Anthony|title=First Look - Amy's Candy Bar|url=http://chicagoist.com/2011/08/01/first_look_-_amys_candy_bar.php|work=The Chicagoist|accessdate=29 July 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906003423/http://chicagoist.com/2011/08/01/first_look_-_amys_candy_bar.php|archivedate=6 September 2015}} 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.{{cite news|last=Dolinsky|first=Steve|title=Amy's Candy Bar offers delightful and unique sweet treats|url=https://abc7chicago.com/archive/8929635/|access-date=29 July 2013|newspaper=ABC 7 Chicago|date=22 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729192427/http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=resources%2Flifestyle_community%2Ffood%2Frestaurants&id=8929635|archive-date=29 July 2013|url-status=live}} The caramels are considered to be a highlight of the establishment.
The store also features a selection of ice cream{{cite web|title=Amy's Candy Bar|url=http://www.timeoutchicagokids.com/eating-shopping/eating/57903/amys-candy-bar|work=Time Out Chicago Kids|publisher=Time Out Chicago Partners LLLP|accessdate=29 July 2013}} and can also provide customized baked goods{{cite web|title=From grandma's kitchen to Amy's Candy Bar|url=http://www.candyindustry.com/articles/85420-from-grandmas-kitchen-to-amys-candy-bar|work=Candy Industry|accessdate=29 July 2013}} such as sugar cookies and cupcakes.{{cite web|title=Baked Goods |url=http://www.amyscandybar.com/confections/baked-goods/ |work=Amy's Candy Bar |accessdate=1 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914072523/http://www.amyscandybar.com/confections/baked-goods/ |archivedate=14 September 2013 }}
Awards and recognition
In 2015, Amy's Candy Bar was recognized by Time magazine in an article, "These Are America's Best Candy Shops", and also highlighted some of the products made in house including sea-salt caramels and their OMG Candy Bar.{{cite magazine|last1=Bethune|first1=Meredith|title=These Are America's Best Candy Shops|url=https://time.com/3695754/americas-best-candy-shops/|access-date=29 October 2017|magazine=Time |date=4 February 2015}} It was also named "Coolest Candy Store" by Time Out Chicago Kids,{{cite web|last=Sheehan|first=Martina|title=Coolest Candy Store / Hipsqueak Awards 2012|url=http://www.timeoutchicagokids.com/guides-resources/179206/coolest-candy-store-hipsqueak-awards-2012|publisher=Time Out Chicago Kids|accessdate=1 August 2013}} and was included on Food & Wine{{'}}s Ultimate Candy Guide{{cite web|title=Ultimate Candy Guide|url=http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/ultimate-candy-guide#!slide=2|work=Food & Wine}} as well as their "5 Best New Candy Shops". In addition, the store was featured on the talk show Steve Harvey, and was given one year of free access to an e-commerce platform to begin online sales of their products.{{cite web|title=Amy's Candy Bar |url=http://www.steveharveytv.com/amys-candy-bar/ |work=Steve Harvey |publisher=NBCUniversal |accessdate=29 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130909113541/http://steveharveytv.com/amys-candy-bar/ |archivedate=9 September 2013 }}
References
{{Reflist|33em}}