Local business Palouse Country Candy offers a wide selection of sweets and Valentine’s Day chocolates for Pullman customers with all types of needs and budgets.

Pam Dabolt, owner of Palouse Country Candy and self-certified chocoholic, can agree that nothing goes better together than the holiday of love and sugary treats.

“There is a lot of history between Valentine’s (Day) and chocolates,” she said.

Especially around the candy-charged holiday, Dabolt aims to provide her customers with enough options and personalization for their “special someone.” By promoting a selection of more expensive gift options and by-the-pound candy belts, taffy and gummies, Dabolt makes sure there is something for everyone who enters her store.

“Chocolates have always been associated with love and passion,” she said. “I think that is why they are always a good choice (for Valentine’s Day). People can enjoy them and eat them. You can enjoy flowers as a beautiful thing, but hey, flowers die.”

Dabolt also helps create custom Valentine’s Day baskets or gift boxes for those looking to make a larger romantic gesture.

“If you want to buy 20 truffles, hey, that’s a lot,” she said, “but to each his own.”

On the other end of the spectrum, Dabolt stocks lollypops and gummy gift boxes for kids or college students on more of a budget.

The customization of Valentine’s Day gifts is often the way to go “because (the customers) know what their loved ones want, they know if they like truffles or if they like caramels,” she said.

Aside from customer satisfaction, Dabolt always felt that the goal of her business should be to support local and regional candy suppliers. A large portion of the chocolates, truffles and other candy she stocks in her store are from local companies like Spokandy and Cowgirl Chocolates.

After rising sales during Christmas and then a lull due to New Year’s resolutions and the decadence of the holidays, she expects a spike in sales over the next few days.

“Once things get closer to Valentine’s (Day), the sales usually pick back up,” Dabolt said.

Dabolt also makes sure to stock her store with enough selection for customers who are vegan or have allergy or dietary restrictions.

After successfully running the business for the past two years, Dabolt is pleased with the store’s progress and growth, especially because of how difficult she feels establishing a profitable business in Pullman can be.

“(The business) has progressed slowly but surely in the right direction,” she said.

Palouse Country Candy will remain open every day until Valentine’s Day for those looking to purchase last minute sweets for loved ones, friends or family.