A new self-care and gifting boutique debuts this week on historic Seminary Street. A Taste of Candy, a namesake store and longtime dream of owner Candy Webb, is located at 61 S. Seminary St., most recently home to Dovetail Rivet & Stitch.
Webb said the dream has transitioned from a blog, to a website to the new retail store in one of Galesburg’s most well-known shopping districts.
“In middle of COVID, July of 2020, my daughters and other family and friends said I should start blogging,” Webb said. “They said I should start writing down some of the things I was telling them about gardening and how to eat.
“Then, they said you can’t have a website without something to sell, and they told me I should sell my teas and candles. So that kind of evolved into ‘can you make me a gift basket’ and it just kind of grew from there.”
Webb said when she learned a store front was vacant on South Seminary Street, “it was an opportunity I shouldn’t pass up. I mean who wouldn’t open right across the street from the Landmark Cafe? It’s the greatest location in the world, it really is.”
Taste of Candy opens Tuesday with a diverse product line and will continue to evolve, according to Webb. Her shop will offer everything from Barbie hats to cowgirl mirrors for purses. The store also will stock candles, teas, diffusers, purses, gloves, journals, local artwork and unique home decor.
“It has been so much fun putting this together, just based on asking people ‘what would you like to see in a gift store?’” Webb said. “I had great conversations about their likes and what we need here in town.
“We will always be evolving. I also don’t want a free-for-all where all the shops are selling the same thing. I think we have a nice little diverse mix of things.”
Taste of Candy is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. It will have extended hours during the holidays.
Webb said she enjoys visiting gift shops on her travels, but Taste of Candy is her own vision.
“This is something I think I’ve had in my head since I was about 25,” Webb said. “I do a lot of traveling and see a lot of stuff, and what I like is “Taste of Candy.” I’ve really had a pretty good run the last couple of years of picking out things that other people like, too.
“If you have something you think you want, ask me, and we’ll put it together for you.”
