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Third Street shop offers the sweet stuff.
  By Nick Sargent ~ Wausau Daily Herald
  11-18-2005

That latest business added to downtown Wausau is a taste down memory lane.

Sweets on 3rd, 615 Third St., which opened earlier this month, offers a variety of fine chocolates as well as other premium sweets, seasonal candies, cheesecakes and ice cream.

There's also sweet-inspired gifts such as stocking stuffers, gift baskets and a wide variety of wedding favors for those who want to do something beside the standard Jordan almonds.

"There's a lot of nostalgia" when customers come in, said Nina Ricciardi, store manager. "There are a lot of people coming in, seeing a particular candy and saying 'Oh, I remember something just like this when I grew up.' They are always sharing memories."

When Ricciardi started considering the idea, she said, many old-fashioned images popped into her head. The wood floor and brick-wall finish of the store that formerly housed Hello Baby, are a perfect fit for the old-time theme.

There are a few booths for patrons to sit and enjoy their chocolates or ice cream treats, which are made with Babcock Hall Ice Cream from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The cheesecake is from Simma's Bakery in Milwaukee. The hand-crated candies come from Lake Champlain Chocolates and Nirvana Chocolates. Both use Bavarian chocolate, and many dark chocolates are available.

The store has posted two newspaper articles touting the cardiovascular benefits of those candies that have high cocoa content.

Sweets on 3rd is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p. on Sunday.

There will be special extended hours during the holidays and special downtown events. They will be posted in the store or available by calling Sweets on 3rd at 842-7171.

What's Up is a weekly feature that is published on the Friday Business page. If you have local retail news or questions for Daily Herald business reporter Nick Sargent, call 845-0662 or send an e-mail to nsargent@wdhprint.com.