Great place to get Mitchell's ice cream and different types of ice cream. This place has lots of sweet treats such as candy and chocolates. You would like the cool different toys also. read more

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Given how long they've been around, and paired with how some folks will review anything and everything (like the Bay Bridge toll plaza), I find it hard to believe that Shaw's hasn't collected more than 124 reviews after all this time. Beyond just being a West Portal institution, they've been around for over 85 years! Kind of nice how, despite how much the city has changed over the last decade or so, some SF favorites have managed to stick around! Walking into Shaw's, I imagine what kids nowadays see is very similar to what kids that came here in the 60's and 70's saw - shelves, racks, and display cases filled with housemade fudges, jelly beans, sweets, chocolates, gummies, and candies. Sure, their sweets aren't the cheapest, but it's hard to beat their service and selection. Years ago, when I was dating this girl who went off to study abroad in Korea, this was just about the only place I could find that sold the chocolate covered gummy bears I was looking to buy for her care package. -- Some of their candy selection: (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/shaws-san-francisco-san-francisco?select=Yl-9IfLETlp1JmwI6qhimw) Oddly though, despite all the enticing sweets that they sell, the real reason why I come to Shaw's is for the Mitchell's ice cream that they sell at the back of their shop. They may not have all of the flavors to choose from, but coming here is so much easier than having to drive all of the way down to the Mission. And when the craving strikes for a scoop of Grasshopper Pie ice cream, I don't want to have to drive that far to satisfy it! -- Grasshopper Pie: (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/shaws-san-francisco-san-francisco?select=yjqLsZ6vcvI69sTC6StZ1w) In all seriousness though, Shaw's is one of those vintage SF businesses that I truly hope is able to stick around for another 85 years. At the risk of sounding like a cranky old man, while I certainly appreciate many aspects of the City's evolution over the last several years, it'd be sad to see another longtime favorite like this fold due to inflated rents and/or get evicted. Really, neighborhood gems like Shaw's are becoming increasingly scarce, but I'll keep coming here for my Grasshopper Pie fix for as long as their doors stay open! read more

Shaw's San Francisco - Just some of their candy selections (there's another case to the left and more to the right) - Candy Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Shaw's looks homey and old-fashioned in West Portal, but the ice cream is Mitchell's and not their own recipe. They do have homemade fudge offerings in different flavors as well as candy. I decided on a rocky road flavor(Mitchell's brand) for $3.50(the junior scoop), but it was alright. The cone was okay and I got a cone. I really had hoped that Shaw's offered their own ice cream, but it's Mitchell's(LET DOWN). read more

Shaw's San Francisco - Rocky road junior - Candy Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

Old school candy store with loads of eye and real candy. The ice cream is what we came after, and it tastes like it was home made in the best possible way. We had a chocolate caramel crunch and devoured it so quickly we did not pause for a photo! Frozen custard like mouthfeel, exquisite caramel sauce with lush complex flavors. Excellent textures, bouquet and harmonious experience. read more

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I love this place in cute West Portal Avenue. They have fudge, cotton candy, Mitchell's ice cream, truffles, jelly beans and more. This looks like a cute mom and pop store that has been in the area for years. It has a 50s diner feel. Like where Betty and Veronica would get their candy. It surely satisfies my candy craving. There are candies sold from long ago like Abba Zabba, Sugar Daddy and Pez. If you are looking for great candy gift items, this is the spot! Popular, fun boxed candies are for sale in addition to purchasing candies & chocolates by the pound. My boyfriend and I picked up some chocolate covered gummy bears, as well as some sour chewies and his favorite fudge. They have an extensive chocolate collection (bridge mix, chocolate-covered-everything-you-want, etc.) so if you're in the mood for something sweet, stop by Shaw's and treat yourself to a variety of candies. It's great feeling like a kid again when I go to Shaw's. Five stars! read more

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Sometimes it really feels like you're living out an episode of "Leave It to Beaver" when you stroll through West Portal. You can probably have a complete retro-50's dining experience by eating at Manor Coffee Shop and then getting some ice cream at Shaw's where you're likely to see Wally and Eddie hanging out when Mrs. Cleaver suddenly walks in with the Beaver... Eddie: "Wally, if your dumb brother tags along, I'm gonna - oh, good afternoon, Mrs. Cleaver. I was just telling Wallace how pleasant it would be for Theodore to accompany us to the movies." Shaw's actually takes me back to my childhood in San Mateo where it was a big treat to go Shaw's on El Camino Real for their ice cream. I think the candy-strip awning is still the same, but the chain was sold years ago. This may be the last one left, and whoever owns the place is smart enough to serve Mitchell's ice cream. Jamie W. and I walked in on a Saturday afternoon, thrilled that it was open since it closes its door at 6PM. I went with a small $3.50 cup of Pineapple Coconut (see photo) and promptly sat down on the solitary bench in front. Chocolate turtles - their signature confection - were in sparse numbers in the display case. Bummer. ICE CREAM - 4 stars...it's Mitchell's, no-brainer AMBIANCE - 4 stars...retro vibe in the Wayback Machine SERVICE - 3.5 stars...chipper TOTAL - 4 stars..."That's a lovely string of pearls, Mrs. Cleaver." read more

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Got total of 2 scoops of Mitchell's ice cream; 1 scoop of grasshopper pie and 1 scoop of pistachio Grasshopper pie was delicious! It was similar to a combination of mint chip Oreo ice cream White pistachio was very yummy as well. We also got 1 pound of chocolate and white chocolate gummy bears ! This was really expensive... $12 !! I was thinking about 6$ tops !! So hesitant on buying because it was so expensive Would I come back? Yes if I'm in the area ! I think there are other cheaper places n just as yummy as well! read more

Shaw's San Francisco - Candy Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

Closed forever after 84 yrs. the staff at Wells Fargo across the street said the rent was raised so the owner decided to close. Greedy SF landlords don't understand how hard it is for small businesses in the city to make ends meets. How many ice cream cones or bags of candy do you have to sell daily to make the rent, pay staff salaries and bills? It was the only place nearby where you can buy locally made Mitchell's ice cream without having to travel far. Alway enjoyed seeing the little kids licking away at their ice cream on a cone while sitting with a parent on the outside bench on a sunny day. Thanks for the happy memories Shaw's. read more

I just went in a few minutes ago. Let me walk you through the experience. The store is barren, there were a few flies on the uncovered chocolate slabs. The jelly beans stand was empty, just a candy dispenser room decorator. The customer before me was charged $2 for a single packet of pop rocks. My nephew and I ordered 2 single scoops of ice cream in a cone with sprinkles on one of them. The sign behind the ice cream stated a single is $3.50 and toppings are $.50. When I went to pay the woman behind the register said the total was $10. I thought, whatever, maybe there's a surcharge for cones that I don't know about. I paid by card and didn't want a receipt. As for the ice cream, it tasted fine. It was weirdly soft. Maybe they keep the freezer at a slightly higher temperature so it's easier to scoop for the employees? On the customer side it felt like licking a bad milkshake, and it melted all over my nephews hand. When I got home I noticed I was charged $11.50. I know $1.50 isn't a big deal, but that kind of breach of trust with someone's cc is enough for me to swear this place off. Fooled me once. read more

Stopped in yesterday. Wow! The cases were practically empty. Chocolates that were in the case looked old. Grey tint to them. Grainy. Not at all appealing. Wonder what was going on. Didn't remind of a Candy Shop. They do sell Mitchell's Ice cream. read more

What in the heck happened in here?!?! I lived in West Portal for almost 10 years. I used to eat fresh fudge and the best turtles here!!! I tried to take my girlfriend and her son while visiting for lunch....it's practically EMPTY!? I thought maybe they are shutting down....but people said this in reviews 8 months ago. Sad how the mighty have fallen. Not even PEZ dispensers in the window for fun. Just the saddest ice cream shop ever. Just burn it down. It would be less sad. read more

This old school candy store sells taffy, chocolate covered things (haystacks, turtles, almond bark), truffles, malt balls, Jelly Bellies, gummi candies, Pez dispensers, and giant jawbreakers. You can get Mitchell's ice cream here by the scoop, pint or quart (they have a case full). The only thing they make is the about a dozen types of fudge including divinity (I didn't try any). Prices aren't displayed and they're higher than I expected. I'm still trying to figure out how I spent $30 on candy. I bought some small chocolate Easter bunnies, malt balls, honeycomb and sour gummi cherries. * Milk chocolate and dark chocolate honeycomb: both are wonderful; a thick creamy layer of chocolate surrounds a crispy, light, golden center (think Crunchie and Violet Crumble) * Mint chocolate malt balls: mmm, so good, these are also creamy with a slight crunch * Sour gummi cherries: The cherries are the best, no wonder they're sold separately now The cases aren't brimming with candy - sections are empty. There isn't much non-candy merchandise: a few stuffed animals and lunch boxes. read more

Shaw's San Francisco - Candy Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

My little neighborhood candy shop! Shaw's has been around since 1931...and still growing strong in the West Portal neighborhood. Before walking in, it's not hard to notice the cute festive decorations displayed in the front window. Shaw's always does an awesome job decorating for practically every holiday. Cute pumpkin and turkey figurines are aligned throughout. Since Shaw's is an old establishment, you definitely won't get the "modern" candy shop feel that exist throughout SF today ,but its the great simplicity that makes Shaw's so unique. You really do feel like you are wondering the streets of an old town Main Street during the turn of the century. For goodies, they have a nice little display of chocolate fudge, a Jelly Belly jelly bean wall, a window for sour candies and chocolates, and behind the cashier area, is the gumball display. They also sell Mitchell's ice cream here as well, with the junior scope starting at $2.50. This afternoon, during my leisurely stroll of my neighborhood, I was craving some sweets, so I decided on an old time favorite from my childhood...Chocolate Covered Gummy Bears. I was actually very surprised to find that they have them covered in both Milk Chocolate and White Chocolate too. So I bought a handful mixed with both milk and white chocolate. Total came out to about $3.50. Not bad. Shaw's is an adorable, simple neighborhood candy shop. And they always decorate so beautifully during all holidays. read more

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A mom and pop candy store right on the corner... okay maybe more like the middle. Shaw's is one of those rare candy stores I actually like. The store's floor plan is well thought out and they're clean and extremely cute. They even have a licorice box, which boasts 5-7 different kinds of licorice and their ice cream is also quite tasty, if not a staining issue. The only negative I could see is that they don't have price per pound on their boxes. Other than that I lurves this place. read more

I used to go to Shaw's all the time growing up, I frequent west portal and got curious about the goodies that may still be around. Pretty much only the Mitchell's ice cream looked promising. The chocolates all looked old and scarce, the gummies section was also pretty disappointing- I noticed fruit flies and regular flies in all sections of the store. Jelly beans, what were left- are old. This was terribly upsetting and I surely wish them the best. I hope that the store is able to make a comeback. read more

While the ice cream here is good, if you come here looking for Shaw's creamery ice cream you will be disappointed. Shaw's (Millbrae) was my family's favorite ice cream joint. We would go there a couple times a month, and always ordered the same thing. The location in Millbrae, which closed down a couple of years ago, used to make their ice cream in the back, and gave huge portions to customers. Anyways, my father took my brother, mom and I to this location a couple of months ago to relive our childhood, but sadly it seems like this shop does not sell their own ice cream, and instead sells Mitchell's ice cream at a higher price for smaller scoops. A huge let down in my opinion. Additionally, customer service here is a bit of a hit or miss. You can either get someone who seems like he/she just wants to go home for the day or someone who is really friendly and attentive. read more

Shaw's San Francisco - Grasshopper pie - Candy Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

A sweet oasis right snack in the middle West Portal. It's more than See's - think fabulous fudge, ice cream, and a homey welcoming vibe with extraordinary chocolates. I tend to stock up on treats at Valentine's Day, Easter and Drop of the Hat...and a Cute little bench outside... Agreed: pricey. read more

Shaw's San Francisco - Look for the Red and White Stripes - Candy Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

Old time candy shop located in West Portal. Floors are still linoleum. Here you can find fudge, chocolates, hard candies, gummies, and Mitchell's ice cream. My favorites include the huge chocolate covered malt balls and the dark chocolate honeycomb candies. $8.99 lb and you can mix and match the chocolates. Metered parking. read more

West Portal is known in San Francisco as an older neighborhood with its old cafes and restaurants. Shaw' sits right in the middle of West Portal and offers a wide variety of chocolates, candies, jelly beans and yes Ice Cream!!!!!! They serve Mitchell's Ice cream and have regular cones or waffle cones. Along with Ice cream they have slushes and my personal favorite Cotton Candy. I would strongly recommend anyone who is looking for a vintage candy store to go to Shaw's, it's easily accessible via the M line on the Muni. I know I will be back for a lot more of their Strawberry Ice cream and cotton candy ^_^ read more

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Mitchell's ice cream (Thin Mint) and a pound of nonpareils. And, it's 75 degrees today in the city! Those are three deadly combinations. Shaw's is fantastic. read more

Shaw's San Francisco - Menu - Candy Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This is a solid place, sort of a nostalgic throwback to the days of yore where kids went to the local corner store to buy candies. They sell assorted candies by the pound, and have a nice selection and friendly staff. It's a nice place to take your young kids and experience the retail sugar rush. Parking in front is more difficult to find, and it's metered, but there's a parking lot (metered to pay) on the same side of the street and parallel as well as perpendicular there's plenty of free street parking if you're willing to walk a block or few blocks or so in the surrounding residential neighborhood. read more

My friend and I were craving ice cream so we decided to stop by this place because we happened to walk by. I've passed by this place many times. It's not too hard to miss because of the stripey banner. A friend told me once that they had really good ice cream so I told myself I would try it sometime. Walking in, I already thought the place was cute in a cozy, local kind of way. It's small but has a nice variety of house-made treats as well we sweets from other manufacturers (like Pez and jelly belly). The ice cream was in the back. I was under the impression that they made their own ice cream but it's actually Mitchell's brand. In a way, I was slightly disappointed but I wasn't upset. Mitchell's is always good. I chose to get white pistachio and my friend got chocolate caramel crackle. Both were great. My was very pistachio-y and my friend's was very chocolate-y. Overall, adorable place. I'd stop by again if I was in the area. read more

Shaw's San Francisco - white pistachio - Candy Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

My friends brought me here for part of my birthday treat, and I got the two flavors that were so typical: ube and matcha! You can get it in a waffle cone or a cup. PROS: - good quantity: definitely shareable if it's post meal. - very creamy - flavors close to that of an Asian gelato place near inner Sunset CONS: - none I'd come back for sure if I was in the area. read more

Nice candy store that sells a lot of different types of candy and Mitchell's ice cream. They even have pez dispeners which was cool..., brought back childhood memories. I got the white chocolate haystack coconut and English toffee which were OK. read more

Love this place for dessert after a movie at the Empire but sadly, I was here about a week ago & nobody was there :( . The windows haven't been papered over but the phone number is disconnected & the website loads nothing. After 4 generations of my family sharing the Shaw's experience, it looks like it's become a victim of the tech economy. Boo! read more

These two stars are for 1. Being a small business and 2. Sugar is always delicious- it's impossible not to like it. My son worked for weeks to 'earn' a fantastical cherry lollipop that he had in his mind. When we arrived they just had a few sad and sticky Tootsi and Blowpops. I had planned to get something crazy and only had my card. Even though they had no minimum purchase, I felt bad and bought another (very efficiently selected) $12 in mini truffles but it was so hard to accomplish because the bored/mad teenager working today was so bothered at having to help us, she kept mouthing "sorry" over us at her friend who was waiting to visit. I'm sure it's impossible to find people who aren't completely insane criminals for minimum wage but maybe try harder? I hate complaining on yelp without first contacting the business directly but they have no info listed and no website. People in cities have literally no reason to go to brick and mortar stores except to have a positive/special/not horrible experience. I can't understand why I would come here, given our experience today. Sad because I just wanted my kid to have a special "candy shop" reward but the people working at Target are way nicer. This was super negative and stressful. read more

Below is Shaws post on Nextdoor.com. In this time of so many stores/restaurants closure, it is so wonderful to know this old neighborhood favorite will be back! - - - - - - - August 3, 2020 Hi, I'm Shaws. Nice to meet you. Hello neighbors! I am Diana Zogaric, the new owner of Shaws. We will be back in business in the coming weeks! I look forward to serving the community and welcoming you in!!! read more

Amazing place! They serve Mitchell Ice Cream! Yummy! Will be back again! Favorite is mango and Ube ice cream. read more

I really want to like this place, which is why I'll probably return. That said, I'm really having trouble lately in finding any redeeming qualities in what should be a local gem of a candy shop. I also am sure it's quite difficult to run a small business these days, hence the hefty price on their bulk candy. So here's what I got last time- two very small, sadly wrapped bags of candy and a melted junior cone for $18. $18!!!! There must have been a misunderstanding, because there's no way the candy could be that expensive. I didn't want to bother the poor man working behind the counter because it seems like an exhausting time of year...but, at least they could've given me some better gift wrapping, and maybe a frozen scoop of ice cream. :-( read more

Shaw's San Francisco - Candy Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

2.5 stars rounded up. Tax Day. I needed something to sweeten up my day. I walked into Shaw's hoping to find exciting, unique candies & found none. Sure they have gummy worms & some salt water taffy (the old stand bys) but nothing too "boutique-y." I settled for chocolate (yes, I prefer candy over chocolate.) Eyeing my options (fudge, gorgeous truffles, Mitchell's ice cream, etc) I picked three filled milk chocolates: maple, lemon & strawberry. Not too impressive, similar to the chocolates you find in a generic Valentine's Day heart shaped box from the drug store. At least the price was right ($2 for my three pieces. Their chocolates are $15.95/lb.) Shaw's is old school. Nothing is shiny or new, nothing is colorful, nothing is lively. I'm sure Shaw's has a special place in the hearts of people who grew up eating their sweets, but it did nothing to tug at my heart strings. The Filipino couples running the store were extremely personable. They brightened up my day more than their chocolates did. read more

On 4/30 approximately 2:40pm (that precise so you guys can check the schedule and aware the lady working that shift.) my girlfriend got rudely yelled at by the lady working. "Please do not go back there?" With a tone that will haunt her forever. It ended with a question statement and the attitude was beyond rude. Miss, if you are reading this, if you had a bad day, don't take it out on your customers. Especially when it's our very first visit. We weren't loud or obnoxious, just got out of a beautiful stroll around the neighborhood. We walked in didn't get greeted, but the only thing was "Please do not go back there?" There was no signs, and she was confused. She was just overwhelmed by what she saw. I would've been understanding if we were being loud and rude, however we are not that type of customers. Your warm not-welcoming attitude just lost a potential future regulars, and I hope you won't do that to any other people again. "Please do not go back there?" It still echoes through our mind... With fear. read more

On a cold day in December, I was window shopping in the West Portal area. I find a store with red and white pinstripe in their awning and thought how festive. Little did I know then that I walked into Shaw's of San Francisco, a candy store institution that has been around since the 1930's. This place does take me back into time. There are chocolates, jelly beans, and fudge. Also, there are candies sold from long ago like Abba Zabba, Sugar Daddy and Pez. Wait, Pez is still around! But what grabs my eye was in the back of the store . . . They sell Mitchell's Ice Cream!! And they have holiday flavors too. So I go in and have a scoop of Peppermint ice cream and a scoop of Butterscotch Marble ice cream. The Peppermint has sweet chunks of red and pink peppermint swirled in vanilla while the butterscotch also swirled in vanilla was a nice smooth flavor that was dreamy. If you are looking for great candy gift items, this is the spot! It's great feeling like a kid again when I go to Shaw's. read more

When my Mom was a kid, she would come here and get goodies for my Grandma. What's different, is that now I go with her. There's homemade fudge in many flavors for my Dad, jelly bellies for my picky niece, truffles for my Grandma, chocolate covered walnuts for my Mom and bridge mix for me. I love a good bridge mix, such a caliedescope of different textures and chewies and crunchies and super sweet and slightly tart. Theirs is unlike any other, with a rare mint sometimes, followed by a whole walnut or almond, dried fruit or covered caramel. Yum. Shaw's is tiny, but has breadth. You will find something you want, something you didn't -but now must have and something you had no idea existed, and will now, too, be in your little paper bag as you waltz out the door. read more

Food: Sweet! Had a Jr scoop of chocolate chip and it hit the spot. Theres also a nice selection of candy including jelly bellys, fudge, and packaged candy. Service: Very friendly Atmosphere: An old school candy/ice cream store but plenty of room to browse around Location: Located in West Portal. Parking available at meters or side streets. Price: A little high for a scoop (around $2.50-$3.50 for one) but the ice cream is good quality). read more

This place reminds me of the old candy shops back in the day. It's charming and I love how they sell ice cream. I bought chocolate covered gummy bears for my brother & there was both white & milk chocolate. It was a bit pricey but I would still highly recommend this place in support of the good old mom & pop shops. They've been around for years. They also make their own fudge! I will definitely be back!!! read more

A fantastic little candy store, it's a slice of heaven in West Portal. They have pretty much any candy you can think of. The ice cream is delicious, I had the green tea ice cream (awesome!) and my husband really liked the chocolate. They don't have sugar-free ice cream, which doesn't matter to me, but someone had come in when we were there requesting it. So just a heads-up for those with dietary needs. Also, the blonde cashier who helped us was super friendly, she should get a raise. ;) read more

Really? Yelp reviewers gave this place four and five stars? Why? I walked into this place WANTING to like it. It's a mom and pop shop in a great neighborhood. Yet before I even set foot into the place my sister said, "Yeah, no. We're not gonna like this place." Why? Because through the door we could see this store gave the impression it was dingy and old. This was perhaps the first candy store I had been in that I found unappealing. Perhaps it was due to the florescent lighting or the dingy old floors or the walls in dire need of paint. Or the candy that was displayed unattractively that just made you NOT want to purchase candy. Okay, yes. They had Mitchell's ice cream. One star there. And they sold lunch boxes with various candy logos. Another star there. But aside from that, nothing special to recommend this place. I would really encourage the management to revamp this place. It should be a lot better than it actually is. read more

Megan summed this place up quite well. This is the original -and one of only two remaining - locations of what had formerly been a candy empire with 50+ shops spanning Northern California. They still make their own fudge in this shop, but the rest of the candy is shipped over from the factory and headquarters in Millbrae. Please stop in and patronize this shop if you get a chance, because there aren't that many of these cute old-fashioned mom-and-pop candy/ice cream shops anymore, most having been overwhelmed by Ben and Jerry's, Double Rainbow (there's one down the street), and Baskin Robbins (yuck). read more

Shaw's is that dessert parlor with an old fashioned feel to it that everyone loves. The candy store and ice cream shop is perfect for kids (or even adults) on the lucky days when sunshine warms up the West Portal neighborhood. One of my favorite local stores along West Portal. The store features tons of candies, fudges, and all sorts of other sweets that are great gift ideas or just desserts for you to satisfy your sweet tooth. Prices are reasonable and the staff here is super friendly. One of the best things about this place is the fact that they sell Mitchell's Ice Cream! Given how ridiculous the lines are at the Mitchell's main location near Bernal Heights, Shaw's offers a great variety of flavors, many of which you'd find at the factory location but literally without the long wait you usually find at Mitchell's. All the flavors are delicious and the regular sized scoop of ice cream is a generous portion for $3.50. While I'll miss the good ol' days when Shaw's sold a range of fruit flavored slushies back in the day, the store still brings back memories for everyone whether you've got a kid or still a kid at heart yourself. Good old fashion candy store with all sorts of desserts to satisfy that sweet tooth of yours. read more

Darn. I liked this place last year when I discovered it. The employees were cheerful and helpful with a firm grasp of English.... and I had a soft spot for the fudge. But something's changed for the worse. I'm wondering if the business changed hands? There is now an older fellow who doesn't seem to speak English, and a crotchety middle-age Asian woman - the last (and final) time I came in a customer was asking for fudge by the fraction of a pound and he was cut off by her gesturing "show me - this much okay?"...she didn't seem to know how to use the scale?! The customer experience has turned tacky....boo! read more