Chris Bottemiller’s dream came true when she opened a new candy store in Woodland on St. Patrick’s Day.
Bottemiller has been a lifelong fan of sweets so when she decided to pursue a new career path, Lakeside Sweets was born.
“I love candy,” said Bottemiller. “I’ve been in administrative work with the family business for many years, and candy has been an almost daily lift in my life to help me cope with a job I didn’t care for.”
She drew inspiration for her shop from other candy stores she visited during her travels.
“I wanted to be able to share that kind of experience with people here locally. The response has been wonderful, and I really underestimated the need, so when I ordered candy for the store, I did not order enough,” Bottemiller said. “We kind of ran out of chocolate the first weekend.”
People from throughout the area come to visit the store on Goerig Street. Along with people from Ridgefield and La Center, the shop has drawn in others from Longview, Kalama and Kelso.
Bottemiller handles bookkeeping for her family’s tax company, a job she still does part time, while running the candy store.
“The daily routine was just not the happy, joyous type of job. No one was ever happy to get their paperwork from me,” she said. “I felt satisfaction with the fact I was helping people and it was a needed service, but there just wasn’t any joy in it. I’ve been to baking school and always had a love for cooking and baking, but the candy thing is quick and easy. The smiles are quick and easy as well.”
Bottemiller said her favorite sweets are Sno Balls from Hostess, which feature a marshmallow covered in coconut, chocolate and caramel. But her ultimate favorite is chocolate, which Bottemiller said she is drawn to.
“I have a variety of chocolate-covered nuts, chocolate-covered cherries and other fruit,” she said. “I’ve kind of curated all the candies that are in here. I’ve spent about a year and a half really looking for the best chocolate. I want to have something for everyone.”
Lakeside Sweets features an entire wall of chocolate to appeal to other lovers of the treat. Bottemiller is mindful of people with dietary restrictions so her offerings include items that are gluten and dairy free, along with 70% cacao varieties.
Her interest in candy sparked when she was a child. Bottemiller recalled going to Bruce’s Candy Kitchenin Cannon Beach, Oregon where she watched employees make taffy in the store.
Prior to opening Lakeside Sweets, she went through an extensive research process to select the items she would sell.
“I kind of already had a list of things I love as a connoisseur,” Bottemiller said. “We traveled to this town in Minnesota that claimed to have the largest candy store in the U.S. We went in and took photos and bought samples. I went the extra mile and contacted them from my home to start a business relationship and order candies so I could determine the quality of what I wanted to have here.”
Bottemiller said she wants to make and sell her own chocolate once she has the space and resources. She’s most excited to make truffles and molded chocolates.
Among the plethora of options, Bottemiller sells chocolate truffles from Birnn Chocolates of Vermont. There are 25 varieties of truffles which are shuffled periodically. The store also features almond bark and different types of popcorn, along with a large variety of candy.
Lakeside Sweets is located at 660 Goerig St., Suite F, in Woodland. The store is open from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Bottemiller said the store will have an official grand opening celebration from June 16 to June 19 during the Planters Days Festival.
