It’s that time of year again. Love is in the air.

What isn’t so magical is the stress business owners must undergo to plan for the holiday. For Kristy Vliet, owner of 5 Kidz Kandy, this time of year can be especially busy.

This is especially true considering this year, the Mardi Gras celebration falls just the day before Valentine’s Day. The candy store has had a lot to prepare for.

“We didn’t realize Fat Tuesday was going to fall the day before Valentine’s Day, but we are going to do it again because we got asked to do it again,” said Vliet.

5 Kidz Kandy offers more than just candy—their everyday menu includes ice cream, sandwiches and other meal options. The store prepared a full menu for the Fat Tuesday, which included several traditional dishes, like Jambalaya, Shrimp Po’ Boys, Cajun Sausage Puffs, King Cake and Bananas Foster.

“Mardi Gras was really popular last year because of all the food and Bananas

Foster,” said Vliet.

But the main attraction of the week was the Valentine’s Day celebration. The store offered the usual Valentine’s Day delights, like chocolate, strawberries and other themed candy.

“A candy store and Valentine’s Day kind of go hand in hand,” said Vliet.

5 Kidz Kandy also partnered with a nearby flower shop to sell bouquets of roses.

“This year we are working with The Ivy Green,” said Vliet. “[The owner] used to have a store here in Waynesburg and Washington. Now she’s back to just Washington, [so] we are going to do orders and deliveries and have her carry flowers out of here and she is going to have some of our chocolates and strawberries available there.”

Thistlewaite Vineyards will add to the celebration, as well, after receiving a permit to hold a wine tasting throughout the day.

“You can come in and get wine, strawberries, chocolates and flowers,” said Vliet.

Also adding to the repertoire of Valentine’s Day candy, 5 Kidz Kandy also had a chocolate fountain that customers could dip different “goodies” in.

Customers can purchase several types of gifts that are not directly related to the name of the store.

From stuffed animals to jewelry, the store has it all, and since the recent closing of Art Beat, 5 Kidz Kandy is starting to sell some of the pottery from owners Jim and Linda Winegar.

“We have just about any kind of gift you can think of,” said Vliet.

With the major holiday season over, and other smaller holidays coming and going, 5 Kidz Kandy is pushing on. The recent holiday promotions are expected to attract a lot of business.