A candy store is a happy place to be, so people that come in here are excited to see all the different things that we make, and they’ re surprised by how much we do by hand.
~ Mary Lappe
Custer County Candy Company has been doing business in Custer since 2001 when it was established by Lee Lampert. For nearly two decades, it was known for being located on the corner of 5th Street and Mount Rushmore Road. In 2020, the business relocated across the street into the historic Custer County Bank building, which was built in 1881.
Today, Custer County Candy Company is owned and operated by Mary and Trapper Lappe and has once again moved to a new location as the business expands.
Both Mary and Trapper grew up in Custer and graduated from Custer High School. After college and living in Rapid City for 13 years, they moved back to Custer to raise their children in the small town community.
With a master’ s degree in accounting, Mary has been involved with business and accounting for her entire career, helping several Custer businesses with their books along the way. That’ s how Mary initially got involved with Custer County Candy Company in 2014.
After the passing of Lee in 2021, Mary stepped in to manage the business, and the Lappe family took over ownership in June of 2022.
Custer County Candy Company is a family-owned and operated small business specializing in hand-crafted chocolates, truffles, fudge and caramel apples made in small batches in-house. They also carry bulk candy, ice cream, smoothie bowls, South Dakota made products and so much more.
Mary said the business is always growing. They recently created a new website with online ordering as well as a new logo to modernize the business while maintaining a vintage feel.
In 2025, the Lappes purchased the historic Garlock Building, built in 1890, and began the transition of moving and expanding the business once more.
“ We want to keep that building as open and historical as possible. We’ re going to have a lot more space, especially in our kitchen,” said Mary.“ We’ re hoping to be able to make more products or do more marketing and maybe sell more online.”
There will also be outdoor seating for customers to enjoy their sweet treats.
Mary’ s favorite part of doing business in Custer is getting to know the locals as well as visitors.
“ Everybody is usually really friendly. A candy store is a happy place to be, so people that come in here are excited to see all the different things that we make, and they’ re surprised by how much we do by hand,” said Mary.
As a long-standing business in the community, Mary said locals appreciate that Custer County Candy Company is open yearround.
“ There’ s not a lot of businesses that stay open for the community, so I know they really appreciate us doing that,” said Mary.
However, staying open year-round takes significant planning. During the summer, Mary said the store has to be open long hours to earn enough income to carry the business through the off-season.
“ You have to plan, and you have to budget. You have to know you’ re going to have expenses in the off-season, and you have to make your money for that in the peak season,” said Mary.
To manage the long hours, Mary hires high school students over the summer to supplement her year-round staff. She averages 10 employees in the summer and five part-time employees in the winter. When it comes to staffing, Mary recommended surrounding yourself with competent people whom you can trust.
For anyone looking to start a business in Custer, Mary recommended getting involved in an existing business and learning the back end as well as the front end.
“ Learn it all, all aspects of the business, so that you can do it yourself as much as possible. If you don’ t have a background in accounting, find someone that you trust that can help you or train you,” said Mary.“ The more you can do yourself, the more money you’ re going to save and invest in the business.”
In the end, Mary said the biggest asset a business owner can have in Custer is a strong commitment to the community and a desire to be an integral part of whatever is going on therein.
myblackhillscountry. com Custer Area Chamber of Commerce Directory 2026 9