See’s Candies

Being a California girl, I’ll take See’s over Godiva. It’s a small store, but packs all my favorite See’s treats. Dark chocolate California brittle, molasses chips, butter creams. Oh, how I love See’s. They still retain their tradition that everyone gets one free sample. Gotta love that.

See’s assorted chocolates and I have a long history together. My family was always gifted with a 1-​lb. box of glorious assorted chocolates to indulge every Christmas. Fast forward to 2013 when I see See’s for the first time in the Fashion Mall. I can have a piece of their chocolate BEFORE Christmastime? Sign me up!
First, you must start with a free sample, which is always granted. Second, you must narrow down your choices from the vast selection of chocolates behind the case. I would suggest you pick one of my favorites – butterscotch square, scotch kiss, scotch mallow (seeing a theme here?), California brittle – or just go for a box of assorted chocolates in order to have a solid variety of quality chocolates. Third and final, make your purchase and enjoy the delectable legacy of Mrs. Mary See. See’s might not be a local business, but they bust out some mighty-​fine chocolate treats.

The ONLY reason I’m giving this two stars is because the ladies who work there don’t make the chocolates themselves.
I visited the store yesterday and was ignored for at least two minutes. No one else was there besides me, but the ladies thought it was appropriate to finish their non-​work related conversation before I should be addressed. I should have left at that point, but I wanted to grab some of my mother’s favorite chocolates for her.
After placing my order and handing my card to pay, the elderly lady decided that she would just place my card down on the counter. I left the card there hoping that she planned to pick it back up. She never did. Instead, she placed by bag of candy next to the card and just slid both things toward me. She didn’t say a word. There was no «thank you.» She turned back around to finish the conversation. Her name was Sandra R.
I won’t be going back to See’s and have contacted corporate. I posted this elsewhere and several other AA friends have said they’ve experienced the same. Hopefully they will contact corporate, too.
Sad.

I called and warned them I was coming.
«Cancel your breaks and get ready; I’m on my way,» I said. I was joking, but… I really wasn’t. I wanted to warn them that I would be placing a large order.
And 45 minutes later, I had several gift boxes and bags filled with luscious, creamy, milk and dark chocolate treats for an army of friends. Decadent novelties of every caramel, nuts, chews, custard filled, whatever. I love this place.

While the shop is small, it’s is packed with all of the sweet and chocolaty goodness that is See’s Candies. Located across from the food court and Napolese on the lower level at Keystone at the Crossing mall, you will find See’s.
The store is broken into two parts, the gorgeous display of single chocolates that you can buy by the piece or make your own box. If you see some thing that you like, but are unsure, they allow you to try a free sample. The other section of the store is the prepackaged See’s Candies that vary in candy mixtures, sizes, and cost that make for perfect last minute gifts for all of the candy lovers or for yourself.
One of the best things about See’s is that many of their candies are gluten free, so much so, on their allergen list, they list the candies that either contain gluten or are made in the same location that makes candies that contain gluten and not the ones that you can eat.

I don’t particularly like sweets, which made it an odd choice years ago when I became the manager of the candy department in a department store. I was always pushing the dark, dark chocolate, which was unusual at the time since most people wanted milk chocolate and loads of sugar.
As the kind of person to sample chocolates, I’ve tried a lot of the chocolate brands there are – from the cheap brands at holidays to the far too expensive to be real brands at any time.
I can count See’s as my go-​to brand. Sure, I like that other California brand, Ghiardelli, but nothing else says See’s as do the Orange Krispys, now only in the Autumn.
I surprised myself when I returned to the San Fran Bay Area last August because I didn’t stop at Ghiardelli’s or See’s. It wasn’t long after that I had Orange Krispys on order.
Today, I was surprised when I turned the corner of the mall to find a See’s store. Wait! This is Indiana. Who outside of Californians really know about See’s? I was thinking that it couldn’t be many. Although the mall wasn’t so busy, the store had two employees and then, me.
I got a Bordeaux Bar and a Milk Chocolate with Toffee Bits Bar, which are both way too sweet for me every day, but it’s been months since I’ve had chocolate.
The staff member who talked to me wasn’t so sweet. I was a bit surprised because in California, they’re always overflowing with sweetness. Even the people at the holiday kiosk in Kenwood Towne Center (similar to my Apple Store comparisons. Oh, and they’re opening a permanent store there also!) in Cincinnati or those kiosks in the Orlando, Florida area really make you feel that they want you there. Hopefully, it was just an off day for her.
You can have your Godiva, Harry & David, Goods, etc. but give me the See’s.