Tampa Tribune Features City Street Sweets in December 15, 2010 Issue by: MickeyM
December 15, 2010
By GEORGE WILKENS | The Tampa Tribune
Published: December 15, 2010
HYDE PARK - Steven Ashworth didn't foresee candy in his future, but a part-time job during college led to sweet success as owner-operator of a small business that is surviving the recession.
City Street Sweets sells more than candy, fudge and other handmade confections. The Hyde Park Village shop has a reputation as a fun destination for children and adults, blending chocolate and entertainment.
"I created the whole concept," the 43-year-old Ashworth said after guiding 14 fourth-graders through Candy College, one of a half-dozen hands-on activities he offers at his shop for groups of four or more. "I wanted to have something that was fun for adults and kids."
Launched in October, his Candy College teaches children the origins of some ancient candies, including the popular legend of how saltwater taffy got its name soon after its 1880s beginnings on New Jersey's Atlantic City boardwalk. Youngsters graduate after creating and personally decorating chocolate-dipped marshmallow treats.
An adult group, Chocolate Bar Therapy, provides historical and nutritional background, sampling of gourmet candies and instruction on creating a custom chocolate bar to take home.
The shop's Celebration Square back room is available for children's birthday parties, complete with treats.
Ashworth, who grew up in the Wilkes-Barre, Pa., suburb of Dallas, opened his store at 1601 W. Snow Circle in December 2007. But his fate was sealed decades earlier in Georgia while attending Savannah College of Art and Design, working toward his bachelor's degree in fine arts.
In Savannah, Ashworth took a part-time job with a family-owned candy company, which led to a position with Godiva, the famous Belgian chocolate maker that sells its sweets at 450 company stores worldwide, and through many more retailers.Ashworth began managing a Godiva store and soon was promoted to a training manager. "That's how I came up with this concept," he said, adding he knew he must end his 14-year Godiva career to implement his plan."I make all the chocolates fresh; everything is handmade," he said. "I've got premium chocolates, all the way down to the gummies," he said, referring to the rubbery textured gummy bears and the more popular shape among kids, gummy worms.
"Word of mouth is driving my business," Ashworth said. "I get every demographic," and kids who first visited with parents at age 2 are among his repeat customers. Some young customers recommend recipes, like hot chocolate fudge, among Ashworth's biggest holiday sellers.
Loyal customers bring friends, neighbors and out-of-town guests. "We've become a destination," Ashworth said.
His dedication is not wasted on even the youngest of customers. "My favorite part was the taffy," said Colleen Napior, one of 14 Girl Scout Troop 855 graduates of Candy College last week.
"I never really knew how taffy was made or where it was from," said the 9-year-old Dale Mabry Elementary student. "I want to eat it so bad," she said of the candies she received and made during the hour session.
"My kid had a blast," summed up her mother, Allison. "What kid doesn't have fun in a candy store?"
The Try-It Girl Visits City Street Sweets and Taste-Tests Some Unusual Treats by: MickeyM
August 15, 2010
Hyde Park, Tampa, Fla - Chocolate. Just the word makes your eyes widen a little and before you know it, your mouth is watering. The options are endless, from chocolate bars to fudge to truffles. Now, in Tampa's Hyde Park, there's a place making chocolate like you've never seen it before.
Just minutes into my visit to City Street Sweets, I was ready to take on the first unlikely recipe: maple, vanilla, bacon fudge. So what does the sweet and swine combination taste like? It's a lot like when you serve up breakfast and the bacon accidentally crosses into pancake territory. It's a bite of traditional br
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eakfast in candy form.
The fun doesn't stop there, you can up the ante by biting into dark chocolate covered bacon. Just a crispy (and a little salty) slice of bacon coated in silky, not-too-sweet chocolate. I was surprised how much I liked it.
The biggest sellers at City Street Sweets are the barks. There are more than a hundred varieties and each is a work of art. There's potato chip, all kinds of cereals, cranberry-blueberry-granola, banana pudding and even Chai tea.
Owner, Steven Ashworth is the mind behind most of these confections. He's been making candies and chocolates for 22 years. His combination of experience and passion lead to infinite possibilities.
Ashworth isn't just happy to make the candy himself, though. He wants to pass the wisdom on to others.
He opened Candy College to teach eager students as young as 3 years old
the ins and outs of the best confections. At the end of the lesson, students get to make and eat their treats.
I learned how to dip chocolate, perfectly coating a trio of tempting marshmallows in thick, creamy chocolate.
The key to perfectly formed chocolate is temperature, which Ashworth says you can easily achieve in your own kitchen.
Another surprise is just how heavy that chocolate is, not like dipping fondue. This chocolate is much higher quality.
If you're up for a bigger challenge, check out the Candy Bar Creator or Chocolate Bar Therapy classes. In each, you'll learn a brief history of chocolate, but only with Chocolate Bar Therapy can you enjoy a full chocolate tasting
including some ultra premium samples.
You could easily spend hours at City Street Sweets, browsing the wide range of fudge and bon-bons and don't think I forgot about those caramel apples. What was the best sample of the trip you ask? I always gravitate to dark chocolate and now my interest was piqued by some spicy varieties.
There was jalapeno, a pepper blend called Great Bark of Fire and Chipotle Pepper Bark. That was the one for me. At first bite, the richness of the chocolate overpowers the punch of pepper. Then, little by little your mouth feels the heat.
I'm told one faithful customer buys the Chipotle Bark to add a little kick to her cappuccino.
I can't possibly list all the delicious surprises in store for you at City Street Sweets so you'll have to check it out for yourself. You can find more information about the store and the classes they offer at CityStreetSweets.com.
Fox TV Covers City Street Sweets Break from the Recession by: MickeyM
July 29, 2010
"I came right into a recession and I was shocked of course," Ashworth said. "My business plan just went out the window there."
Despite it all, Ashworth is still making chocolate and still smiling.
But others aren't.
A new study shows many in Florida are worried about their bottom line. Researchers at the University of Florida say people's confidence in their own finances is at an all-time low, and they're just as worried about where their bank accounts are headed.
The study comes just as consumer confidence nationwide has fallen to the lowest level in five months.
Many families are spending less and saving more. When they do spend, they're making every dollar count.
Trang Burnett says she and her three little boys love making a trip to their favorite candy store.
"It doesn't have to be like spending too much, but this is like a little treat for me and them," Burnett told FOX 13.
Nearly three years after opening City Street Sweets, Ashworth is still hanging on and even thriving, despite the economy. In fact, his business is one of the few still open in Hyde Park Village.
"Starting a business during a recession, there was so much heartache and after the years has gone by, especially the last couple years, I wouldn't give it up for anything," he said.
Even so, he's not taking anything for granted. Like so many others, he's saving every penny he can.
"Oh yes, definitely!" he said about saving his hard-earned cash. "[I'm] trying to, anyway. You have to because you don't know what around the corner is going to happen."
Researchers at UF blame all of the uncertainty on the job market and the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. They say the spill happened just as the economy was starting to show signs of improvement.
