Travel guide names an Upstate shop the best candy store in South Carolina

Kimberly Blackwell got into the candy business when her real estate business was slow.

"I'm a mortgage broker and mortgage rates got kinda high and it got slow, and I was thinking what can I do to bring in some business, and had a crazy idea to start the candy store. My daughter and her best friend jumped right in, too," Blackwell said.

A week from being a year old, her shop — the Pendleton Candy Company — was voted the best candy store in South Carolina by the GuideToSouthCarolina.com . The website publishers made the announcement on Friday. The public could go to the website to vote in the annual roundup of businesses with the best products and services across the state.

The site described the shop as a place for visitors of all ages with a sweet aroma of confectionary treats, nostalgia, and a wonderland of sugary delights.

Blackwell said her mom never let her have candy. "That's why I have no cavities," she said, laughing. "We're so excited because we have the best customers. All the customers came out and voted. I hope it brings more business to Pendleton," she added. "We love this area, and I thought this would be a great place."

The "salted caramel fudge is the best seller," Blackwell said. "I make a pecan praline cake. It's a caramel cake with a praline topping. People love that. We sell a lot of Jelly Bellies," she said. "Hopefully, we can keep expanding and grow and add another one; who knows?"

"It is so exciting," said her daughter Claire Blackwell, who welcomed customers alongside coworker Camille Cunningham, her former tennis team partner while students at Southern Wesleyan University. Both now attend Clemson University.

"We had a lot of customers who came in and said they voted," the younger Blackwell said. Her favorite treat? "I would probably say the caramel praline cake."

And for Cunningham? "I would definitely say the salted carmel fudge, it's so good. But we've sampled and tried everything in the store."

On Friday, Pendleton town councilman Jeff Van Drie was among the shop's customers.

"We're so proud of the Pendleton Candy Company with this award," Van Drie said. "It's an incredible place to come to."

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Travel guide names an Upstate shop the best candy store in South Carolina