Kendra Gilbert
Latest posts by Kendra Gilbert (see all)
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Move over Willy Wonka, there’s a new sweet shop in town. In downtown Reedley, to be exact. And its owners, a husband and wife whose sweet dispositions rival the candied confections they sell, hope you’ll make the trip — no golden ticket needed — to their very Sweet Destination. But, if the promise of candy and chocolate isn’t enough to get you to drive from Fresno to Reedley, there are countless other features about this new local shop that might.
For instance, coffee. And tea. This is Mike’s area. He serves up hot cups of Fresno-based Lanna Coffee and Hanford’s L.T. Sue Co. tea starting at 7 a.m. Monday through Friday. Customers are encouraged to sit and enjoy their hot drinks at tables made from old street signs (part of the destination theme) clustered in the front of the shop.
The candy and chocolates make up only a portion of the treats sold at Sweet Destination. Hand-made pastries, locally-sourced nuts and granolas, and speciality popcorns are also for sale, displayed in vintage fixtures and props, making for a fun shopping experience, while showcasing a bit of history. And that’s still just half of Shelly’s — wife to Mike and Sweet Destination visionary — dream. The other half is toys: namely retro-inspired (and battery-free) American-made toys.
But, perhaps the sweetest part about Sweet Destination — and likely its most special feature, and the thing that will keep people coming to Reedley — are the conversations they’re bound to have with Mike and Shelly. Married for 39 years, the couple retired on the same day back in May so that they could finally make the dream of a candy and toy shop a reality. And the store is as much for the customer to enjoy as it is for the couple to meet and chat with the people who stop by.
Sweet Destination is also offering some seasonal sweetness right now in the form of custom Christmas wish lists, and by allowing children to drop off their letters to Santa for the chance to win a special treat.
Here, Mike and Shelly Henderson talk about what it’s like to finally open the shop after many years of dreaming and planning; why they are busier now in retirement than they were in their previous careers; and why a shop selling candy and toys was a no brainer.
Sweet Destination is located at 1115 G Street, Reedley, Calif.; 559-977-6600.