Kids in a
candy store
it’s e v e ry c o n f e c t i o n e r y
l o v e r ’s d r e a m c o m e t r u e .
Milk chocolate butter caramels. Peppermint
buttercremes. Dark chocolate-covered marsh-
mallows. White chocolate almond bark.
Wrapped individually in brightly colored foils
or papers and then stacked on trays in a display
case, the candies adorn the front entrance of
Costas’ Candies & Restaurant in Owatonna.
With more than 35 homemade varieties to
offer, Costa’s has something for every fancy —
especially during the holiday season.
New owner Grant Schultz, who took over the
business Oct. 1, said while the business maintains
a population of candy customers throughout the
year for events such as birthdays, anniversaries or
class reunions, it’s the holiday season when it sees
its biggest rush of people.
Former Owatonna residents return to the city
and make it a priority to come by and check out
the candy, and others load up on the sweet-tast-
ing treats to give as presents for friends and loved
ones.
The candies — whether caramels, truffles,
creams, nut clusters or chocolates — are weighed
by the pound and then placed in the company’s
signature golden boxes, accented with a metallic
ribbon or other wrapping paper.
Over the years, the business has expanded its
varieties of candies available to customers.
Former owner Ted Boosalis, who is still help-
ing out with the candy-making at Costas’, said his
family owned the business starting in 1919. At that
time, there was a soda fountain and ice cream.
The candy-making escalated in the years to
come.
Continued on next page
by sa r a h st u lt z
ph o t o s b y br i e co h e n
Winter 2009 ♦ Southern Minnesota Magazine ♦ 15
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