Feb 14, 2010

Valentine’s a sweet time for shopsBy Natalee SeelyNewsandSentinel.com

Vienna – With Valentine’s Day approaching, area chocolate shops and florists experienced a jump in sales the past week.

Holl’s Chocolates prepared thousands of online orders to be shipped this week and sold hundreds more at its Vienna location on Grand Central Avenue.

“We really get busy around the holidays,” said co-owner Michelle Holl. “We probably sell the most chocolate on Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day.”

The store, which also has two other locations in Charleston, ships chocolates anywhere in the continental United States.

Customers can mix and match with nearly 30 kinds of chocolates and truffles, creating their own custom box for their loved ones. For Valentine’s Day, Holl’s Chocolates offers seasonal items. A popular gift has been a box made out of chocolate containing 10 truffles. Chocolate heart candies and chocolates packaged in traditional heart-shaped boxes were also big sellers, said Holl.

“Everyone has their favorites, and the good thing is, we can customize each box,” she said. “They say chocolate stimulates the feeling of love in your brain. So what could be a better gift?”

Last year in the United States, more than $340 million was spent on chocolate in the week before Valentine’s Day.

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