Cheap Chocolates and Sweets in Rural Alabama
Russell Stover Outlet Along US I-65 is Chocolate Lover's Dream
Just off US I-65 at exit 130 is one of the fifty or so candy outlets operated across the United States by Russell Stover Candies. Wonderful, tasty treats are available for often only pennies on the dollar! Nearly every candy favorite is represented. There are, of course, countless boxes of the store’s namesake, Russell Stover candies, in every combination of milk and dark chocolate, creams, caramels, nuts, cherries, and even sugar-free and low carb varieties. There are also boxes upon boxes of Whitman’s Samplers, Pangburns’ Millionaires, and Mrs. Fields. Even Jelly Bellies and Skittles claim a wall to themselves.
Every Candy Package Tells a Story
The chocolates are splendid in their package variety. Towers of traditional shrink-wrapped shiny white boxes of various poundage are stacked next to hearts of all sizes and styles. Velvet and lace hearts sit with denim hearts. There are metal boxes stamped with curling Victorian flowers on the shelves with big leather-look football boxes. Elvis Presley is well represented on an entire series of packages. Lots of the smaller boxes of chocolates come hugged by a stuffed animal or favorite comic strip hero. Beanie Babies appear nearly as often as Elvis. And all these lovely chocolates are at priced well below their original retail.
Last and Off-Holiday Amazing Chocolate Deals
The absolute steals, though, are the “off-holiday” chocolates. Off-holiday chocolates are the ones packaged and sealed for the prior holiday or two. For example, if you are shopping near Easter, then the previous Christmas’ candy will be deeply discounted and the previous Halloween candy treasures will be sold at nearly giveaway prices. This chocolate tastes just fine and can be easily re-packaged at home (or eaten as is!)
Bloomed Chocolate is Still Safe and Delicious
Occasionally, pre-packaged chocolate with some age on it may “bloom”. Chocolate bloom is caused by temperature and moisture changes interacting with the sugars and fats in the candy, and can be recognized by a slight whitish tint that forms over the chocolate. Bloomed chocolate is still perfectly sanitary and safe to eat at home, but may not make the best gift. The outlet employees will answer your questions about chocolate age and bloom quite frankly. Just ask.
Oops Candy Mistakes are Another Great Deal
“Oops candy” is, as its name implies, edible but imperfect chocolate sold at a much-lower-than-retail price. The Russell Stover outlet packages it by the pound in drab, matte white cardboard boxes. A box of “oops” might be a pound of imperfectly coated caramels or two pounds of slightly mashed strawberry nougats. The “oops” boxes are rather generically labeled and sometimes have somewhat surprising contents. They are perfect for cooks or really serious chocoholics who value chocolate quantity over accuracy.
Daily Made-to-Order Candy and Other Delights Available
The Greenville outlet store also boasts a candy kitchen where lovely truffles, tempting fudge, and a host of other delectables are made fresh every day. A long glass candy counter houses nearly twenty feet of beautiful candies that can be purchased a piece at a time. There is also an ice cream cabinet and counters of nut brittles and caramel apples so thoroughly decorated that they weigh about a half pound each. Coffee is available and a few tables and chairs are dotted around -- an excellent option for a quick chocolate snack.
Russell Stover Candy Outlets Throughout the U.S.A.
The fifty or so other Russell Stover Candies outlets are sprinkled throughout the Eastern and Southeastern United States from as far north as Minnesota down through Florida. There are even a couple west in Colorado. The largest clusters of stores are in Kansas and Missouri in the Metropolitan Kansas City area. A check of online telephone books or the ever-reliable Google will turn up the individual locations. And every one of their shopping bags has the entire list of stores printed on it. The folks at the Greenville location will also answer questions over the telephone at 334-382-8422.
Stacks of Boxes of Candy
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Fresh Candy Counter
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Shelves of Chocolate
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