There’s no better place to gets some sweets for your sweetie this Valentine’s Day, than at the newly renovated and reopened Patsi Cola candy store.

New Owners and Operators, Holly Drage and Gilles Pelletier, invite everyone to help them celebrate the grand reopening of Patsi Cola by stopping in to see the new renovations and check out their awesome display of diverse candy.

Drage and Pelletier have been working tirelessly over the past few weeks to stock and refresh their newly purchased business. They say it has been a whirlwind of activity since they decided to take over.

Just three weeks ago, Pelletier was discussing the business closing with the previous owners.

“I really felt bad that the town was going to lose this unique store,” he says, adding, “Then Holly approached me about buying it together and that was it. We decided to buy and open the store within two days.”

When queried as to why she wanted to run Patsi Cola, Drage says she thought it would be a fun venture and her teenage daughters were fully supportive of the idea

“They wanted to work here and were sad about losing such a great store,” says Drage, laughing, explaining that when she called to tell her daughters about the purchase, there were squeals of excitement on the other end of the line.

“Holly has a huge creative edge to her,” adds Pelletier, “Which is a definite asset here.”

Drage and Pelletier say that it’s really important to them to keep the concept of the store the same, but to re-brand the image with new flooring, paint and inventory.

“The core of this business is the sweet candy, but we think that there is a wider market for more health oriented candy and so we are going to bring some sugar free, organic candy,” explains Pelletier.

They are also focusing on having a larger chocolate display.

“We have recruited a new chocolatiere to help us carry a bigger variety of chocolates and truffles that are made locally,” says Pelletier, with Drage adding that they are pretty excited about that aspect of producing and selling locally.

“We have increased our liquorice section and our English candy section will expand as well. We will of course keep bringing in the novelty candy,” says Drage.

Pelletier says that the store is also focusing on providing gift baskets, party bags and wedding favours.

“From the very beginning of us taking over, we have had people coming in to get one last go at the store,” says Pelletier, adding, “Both kids and adults have been very excited to learn that we are staying in business.”

Drage and Pelletier say they are definitely open to ideas and candy requests as they want to cater to their clientele.