TOPEKA (KSNT) – Local businesses are feeling the Valentine’s Day rush, and for Hazel Hill Chocolate, preparations started months ago.
Owner Nick Xidis said his team began preparing as early as Christmas for one of the busiest times of the year. With demand surging this week, the shop has added a third shift to keep up and ensure customers can still find the perfect sweet treat for their loved ones.
Xidis told 27 News that while working around the clock can be exhausting, it’s also rewarding.
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“We really want to make sure, even though it’s a premium product, that we’ve got something for everybody in this community,” Xidis said. “When we deliver stuff or see people here, and they give it to their sweetheart, and it makes them happy, and they’re able to enjoy that. That’s what makes all the work worthwhile.”
In just the past three days, Hazel Hill has produced and sold roughly 1,000 pounds of chocolate products. A fan favorite, chocolate-covered strawberries, accounts for about half of that total.
With Valentine’s Day here, Xidis says the team is focused on keeping shelves stocked and making sure no one leaves empty-handed.
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