Russell Stover store closes down

Russell Stover’s candy outlet store closed its doors for good on Oct. 27. 

Although the 30-year candy factory has been closed since April 2000, the store remained open but was not making much money Marion County Economic Development Commission Director Rodney Berry said during a monthly meeting held this past week.

A media company, according to Berry, has purchased the property, including the plant and store.  “The building has been sold, not to a manufacture but to a media company,” Berry said, adding the company intends to sell the building and acreage, while the store would be sold to a retailer.

Betty Turner was a cashier at Russell Stover for 13 years.  She said she enjoyed meeting new people and seeing all of the different candies that have come in from around the world.

Turner said she has seen a change in sales the past couple of weeks.

“It has been real well the past couple of weeks since it’s been on sale, a lot of people coming in and they have bought real well,” Turner said.

About once a month Joan Herring, of Mullins, visited the Russell Stover store to see what candy they had in stock.  She said she is sad to see the store leave and she is going to miss the fresh candy but she is also concerned about something else.

“I don’t think its good for our community. There is only a few people working here but they don’t have a job now,” Herring said.
Herring hopes to see new and old businesses opening in the future.