Esther Price unwraps new store

Local confectioner Esther Price Candies plans to open a second store in Cincinnati, this time on the western part of the city, on Monday, Feb. 8.

Jim Day, owner of the Dayton-based chocolate retailer, who hails from that part of Cincinnati, said he wanted the 5500 Harrison Ave. store open in time for Valentine’s Day. He said the opening meets a longtime goal.

“I’ve had so many people bug me, ‘When are you going to put a store in our area?’” he said.

When he learned late last year that the former Hollywood Video store was available, he leased it, he said.

The new location will bring Esther Price’s roster of stores to six, Day said. The company last opened a store at 4801 Bolanzo Blvd., Clayton, in 2007.

Day said he’d also like to open another store somewhere between Dayton and Cincinnati.

While Christmas ranks as the confectioner’s biggest selling season, Valentine’s Day and Easter are in line behind that, Day said.

Consumers are expected to spend $14 billion on candy, flowers, cards and other merchandise this year, according to the National Retail Foundation’s 2010 Valentine’s Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey.

The survey released Monday, Feb. 1, found that consumers plan to shell out less on Valentine’s Day gifts for their spouse or significant other — an average of $67.22, versus $63.34 a year ago.

But overall spending for the holiday — a figure that includes family, friends and pets — should inch up to $103, versus $102.50 a year ago, the NRF survey states.

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