Edie Bees lands in Lewes

Pulling out all the stops to get the doors of her new candy store open in time for Easter, Edie Bees Confections owner Leisa Berlin said she hopes to provide the Cape Region the kind of exclusive confectionary she says has been missing in a search for sweets at the beach.

Since she acquired a location at 115 Second St. late last fall, Berlin said, she has been hard at work, searching nationwide for the highest-quality, most unique chocolates and candy available.

The result is evident inside Edie Bees.

Lining the shelves are 220 oversized apothecary jars, filled with such kid-friendly favorites as pixie sticks, rock candy, gumballs and pop rocks. Still, what sets the confectionary apart is the chocolate.

A gallery of exquisite bulk chocolates features truffles and honey bees, the store's signature treat of hand-painted chocolates and honey made in Philadelphia.

"None of this is candy you can find anywhere at the beach," Berlin said of her high-end collection, which includes lavender and peanut butter-and-banana chocolate bars. "I had to apply to companies for the chocolates and send pictures of the shop and the town. They decided whether I could carry the chocolates or not."

Display tables are now stocked with Easter treats, including a chocolate bunny at least two feet tall and unusual chocolate Easter eggs.

The candy store also carries gifts assortments such as exotic caramel collections made with rosemary and Mexican chiles along with more far-out fare, such as barbecue potato chip and beef jerky chocolate bars.

This is not Berlin's first candy store in downtown Lewes, but it is her most unusual, she said. Looking to provide the quality many newer Lewes residents were accustomed to at homes in the surrounding metropolitan areas, she has done an exhaustive search to accommodate her clientele.

"I'm bringing the city to the beach," Berlin said.

For more information, contact Edie Bees Confection Shop at 302-645-BEES.