A site on Route 66 was a natural when chocolatier Marcia Wilson looked for a storefront for her on-line candy business that had outgrown her kitchen. Back in the 70s, Wilson’s folks ran a liquor store in a building that was for sale in Cuba on Route 66 next to the post office. Besides the nostalgic desire to have the building where her parents’ had their store, Route 66 travelers would have easy access to her store, and it would be easy to ship orders at the post office. It was a sweet location.
In fact, Wilson has put out the word on Route 66 newsgroup sites that she is collecting Route 66 maps and brochures to decorate her storefront
Wilson credits her mother and grandmother for the recipes for her homemade fudge that started her business. After her sales on eBay established her business, she expanded her line of flavors and kinds of candies. Her over 500 chocolate molds allow her to customize her chocolates to special occasions and needs.
Wilson opened her Route 66 Fudge Shop at 705 W. Washington (Rt. 66) right before Christmas and had customers waiting in line to buy her fudge, gift baskets, and other specialized chocolates. In the week before Valentine’s, she made candy until the wee hours of the morning. Individual and corporate orders demand chocolates.
“I love the challenge of making perfect, decadent candy that tastes great and looks beautiful too. I feel this allows me to use my talents because it is creative, challenging, and quite rewarding. I am always looking for a new candy challenge,” Wilson remarked.
Wilson achieved one of her business goals by introducing a signature line of Route 66 candy bars in March. The Route 66 candy bars are available in 12 flavors and can be purchased individually or in a gift box of 12. Each Route 66 candy bar bears a slogan such as “Turnpike Toffee” or “Main Street Mint” to express the flavor of the road as well as the flavor of the candy bars. There’s also a Route 66 Down The Lane diet bar.
One of the bars is caramel chocolate and bears the graphics of the Viva Cuba Mural Project, which commissioned the 12 outdoor murals in Cuba, a town that boasts the title “Route 66 Mural City.” The mural project receives part of the proceeds from this bar to fund ongoing mural maintenance.
“I can’t wait to see the reaction to the candy bars from Route 66 travelers. The history of Route 66 is so important to our town, and we get a lot of travelers who stop to see the murals,” Wilson said.
Now these travelers will have one more reason to stop in Cuba “where the sweets hit the streets along Route 66.”
To see pricing and all the flavors of the new Rt. 66 Candy Bars visit
Other information about Cuba, Missouri
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