DISH MAGAZINE MARCH 2020
EYE CANDY
Kelly’s Country Store offers Easter treats, candies and gifts on Grand Island
T
BY MICHELE DELUCA
he thing Kevin Kelly most enjoys
about working at his family’s country
store is that people who first visited when
they were children, are returning with
their own kids.
Most of those grownups can remem-
ber how wide-eyed they felt as kids when
they entered rooms full of chocolate at
the old-fashioned Grand Island store.
And many likely sat on Santa’s lap when
he made appearances there during the
Christmas season or purchased penny
candy from the jars on the counter.
“We work hard on helping people
keep family traditions,” Kelly said. “I
think about how many people have
walked through the store over the years
when they were little kids and now
they’re married and have kids. It’s some-
thing to see,” he said.
Kelly’s is a four-generation family
business that began specializing in
chocolate in 1962. This time of year, the
Easter rooms are filled with chocolate
bunnies, rabbits, and all kinds of treats
to stuff into Easter baskets.
The store, which was opened in
1962 by Kevin’s grandparents, Grace
and Walter Kelly and his father, Michael
Kelly, is now run by Kevin and his sister,
Maureen Knight, assisted by several of
their children.
This spring, beyond two large rooms
full of Easter treats, the store features an
unique supply of what was once called
“Penny Candy,” including jaw breakers,
licorice, candy dots on streams of white
paper, candy necklaces, and much more.
As young shoppers decide which bits
of candy they would like to purchase
from a large counter full of jars, parents
can shop for store-made boxed choco-
lates and sponge candy, and a variety of
Terri Henderson of Kelly’s Country Store on Grand Island, holds a chocolate bunny in the Easter rooms at the chocolate and gift
store
kitchenware, jewelry, and other gifts.
The store’s merchandise selection
was recently expanded with a selection
of gifts from Ireland, which were added
when the former owner of an Irish im-
ports store joined Kelly’s as a buyer. The
store now features Guiness merchandise
ranging from glasses to pouring spoons
to soccer shirts, along with Irish caps,
sweaters, scarves, and jewelry.
Kelly’s will offer expanded hours at
the Grand Island store through Easter,
from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with drive-up ser-
vice. Shoppers can order online and their
purchases will be delivered to their cars.
“We want to make sure to accommo-
date everyone,” Kevin said.
Kelly’s Country store is located at 3121 Grand
Island Boulevard, a few minutes drive from the
north Grand Island bridge, off Exit 20B from the
I-90 South. The website is kellyscountrystore.com.
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