• Home
• About Us
  • Awards
• Ads Info
• Past issues
  • 2007 Past Issues
  • 2008 Past Issues
• Extras
  • Blogs
  • Election 2008 Coverage
  • Subscribe to HiLite Online
• Sports Stats
• Contact

Sweet and Simple

Newly opened Simply Sweet Shoppe caters to the high school student’s inner child

By Shireen Korkzan
<skorkzan@hilite.org>

Close your eyes, sit back and reminisce. Feel the nostalgia of being a little kid in a small quiet town of an eastern state in old-fashioned America. Every morning, you do small chores around the house for Mom and Dad to earn a dime and then head out for school. When the final bell rings, you run with a group of friends to the local candy shop, the one place where all your worries temporarily go away and the only thing on your mind is chocolate and lollipops. You could stay in your sweet haven for hours, but you have to leave early to do homework. So you spend your dime on 10 small pieces of candy and then trot home in delight.

Unfortunately, you’re a 21st century kid living in the Midwest. Worse yet, you live in a large, busy suburb outside of Indianapolis, and all you see after school are art galleries and expensive restaurants. You’re lucky to even get a quarter-pound-sized burger for six bucks once a week.

But now your childhood has been spared, thanks to Bernie Szuhaj, Jill Zaniker and Lynn Wiegand. Together, this trio transformed an 1872 house into The Simply Sweet Shoppe, a brand-new candy store located at 30 N. Rangeline Road in the Carmel Arts District. Inspired by their own children, the main purpose of starting this business was to create joyful memories for people of all ages. Memories that today’s little children can tell their future children and grandchildren of for them to imagine a world so sweet. Memories rich and smooth that today’s high school students can talk about at their 20th high school reunion, debating whether eating chocolate truffles or sour candies were the best part of PLC Late Starts. Memories the grown-ups and elderly can reminisce of when they were children visiting their local candy store from long ago the moment they step foot in The Simply Sweet Shoppe. And it has done just that with its cozy, warm and friendly atmosphere and employers as appealing as its delicious treats. The candy-themed music and stuffed animals add a youthful touch to the little store.

Most of the candy offered cannot be sold at regular stores, so it’s worth the extra trip going to The Simply Sweet Shoppe just to get that flavor not found anywhere else. The delicious candy comes from seven distributors from across the country, making the choices more abundant than your average grocery store. You can’t go wrong with having to choose between flavored powder and Happiness in a Bite Cupcakes, or the frozen and colorful Greyhound and warm European sipping chocolate. Or to be on the simpler side, fresh baked cookies from scratch are always available.

Of the hundreds of edible delights available, the best sold are made right from the little bakery near the back of the store. The homemade peanut butter fudge and chocolate ganache are the best products of all, with their gooey centers sticking to the roof of the mouth and the subtle tastes pleasing anyone’s taste buds. Even the buttery and sticky coconut cookies can’t compare to the fudge and ganache. The peanut butter fudge is softer than regular fudge but is bursting with more flavors. It makes you want to spoon a jarful out and stuff in your mouth for a long period of time. The chocolate ganache on the other hand is fancier with its mini muffin shape and white icing swirls on top. But the moment you get to the fudge-like center you know it’s more than just a “muffin.” And to rinse out your sweet bliss, you don’t have to turn to water just yet. The Greyhound is a signature drink of The Simply Sweet Shoppe. In honor of this school, it consists of a raspberry slushy and Sunny Delight. The blue from the raspberry and the yellow from the Sunny D form our school colors of blue and gold, making this drink spirited as well as refreshing. Or if you still need a chocolate fix, try the rich, smooth European sipping chocolate, which consists of milk chocolate. This warm concoction is perfect to have on a cold or rainy day. If you still need chocolate after drinking a medium portion of this drink, you may need to get checked for “chocoholism.”

There isn’t one bad product sold in The Simply Sweet Shoppe. You would buy out the entire store if you could. Or if you’re short on cash but have a dime to spare, you can always buy 11 pieces of “retro candy” (old-fashioned candy) for that price. Now you can feel the nostalgia with your parents and grandparents. After school, don’t go home first. Relax to the warmth and comfort of delicious treats while hanging out with your friends. Or if you’re in a hurry, pull out your dime; get 11 pieces of old-fashioned candy and trot home, just like Mother did.

—

Address: 30 N. Rangeline Rd., Carmel, IN 46032
Atmosphere: A
Food: A
Service: A-
Overall: A

Multimedia/Links »

Photo of the Day

PERFECT PRACTICE: Freshman Jeff Hou watches freshman Ray Qian practice on the piano in the orchestra room on Dec. 12 during 7th period. They frequently practice in preparation for future playing tests and performances. ARJUNA CAPULONG / PHOTO

View more photos >

Photo Essays

Cross Country State Meet - VICTORIOUS RUN: In Head Coach Chuck Koeppen's final season, the men's and women's cross-country capture both State titles, sending him off as a winner. NICK JOHNSON / PHOTOS

View more photos >