By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
PEMBERVILLE —Penny Widmer likes to share what she loves.
As owner of Gigi’s Confections & More, she hopes customers walk into the shared boutique-style business space at 222 E. Front St. and feel like they are getting treats from grandma.
Though she’s not yet a grandmother, Gigi will be her designated name when that day arrives. So she is starting early at sharing sweet treats with others.
“Come to Gigi’s, get a sugar treat, and then they can go home, just like at grandma’s,” she said.
The retail space is a dream come true for Widmer, who grew up in Wayne.
“When I was little, my mom always said, ‘One day she is going to have a candy store,’” Widmer said.
It took a while for the dream to materialize, but her husband, Eric Widmer, a Pemberville native, asked Denny Henline at Home Town Realty if he knew of any commercial space. The boutique space at 222 E. Front St. had recently become available.
“I knew with the Gathering Place and Beeker’s being here, this spot would be a good location,” Eric said. The Widmers jumped at the chance to be a part of Pemberville’s commercial business culture.
Together, they already operate Second Time Around, an eBay store that specializes in jewelry and watches, but the candy store is Penny’s happy place.
The gourmet candy store features quality candy that can’t be found in “big box stores,” she said.
Most of the offerings are produced in small batches to ensure quality and freshness, such as the Simply Delightful popcorn line from Michigan. With 10-12 flavor choices, popcorn connoisseurs can find favorites such as traditional buttered to the sweet banana taste of Monkey corn (think Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey ice cream) or a more savory Dad’s White Cheddar corn.
O’Shea’s Candies and Chocolates come from Pennsylvania and feature quality chocolates and the squishiest and most flavor-filled gummy candies, Eric Widmer said, “speaking from experience.”
“I look for next-level treats and products that are made in Ohio or nearby states to keep it as local as possible,” Penny said. “Everything is hand-picked and tried in advance of selling it in the store.”
Two of her favorites are the homemade-style marshmallows, “like nothing you’ve ever tasted before,” that come in flavors such as fluffer- nutter and cotton candy, and the all-natural crispy rice bars in 10 flavors such as lemonade cookies and cream and birthday cake.
The store has a claw candy machine that provides interaction for young and old alike. For $1, they work the claw as long as it takes to grab a candy treat.
They also sell retro-style candies like Pop Rocks, Pixie Sticks and Pez, as a throwback to favorites from earlier decades.
“We picked out some candies that we remembered and could find, but we do not sell any of the candies that Beeker’s General Store sells. We don’t compete with their candy specialties,” Penny said.
They see Pemberville’s retail businesses in a growing phase, and Todd Sheets as a great asset to the town. They are excited to be in the effort to reinvigorate the downtown, with women owning many of the new establishments.
“I love the fact as a woman, she has rolled the dice. Her tenacity and bravery are inspiring. It is amazing that other women are stepping up to bring this town back to what it was,” Eric said.
“We want Gigi’s to be a place to come to find unique things like many of the other Pemberville businesses,” she said.
The store is open Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. They are closed Monday through Wednesday. They offer a discount to first responders, police, firefighters, military and teachers.
Their goal is to keep customers coming back for more of the sweet treats the store offers. “We’ve learned to make customers happy you are going to make money. We want everyone to leave here with a smile on their face,” she said.
