The mobile candy store launched in 2024 and is owned by Tina Stephens and her husband, Jason Peterson.
The business traveled throughout North Texas to various events and festivals and was based at the Box Office Warehouse Space in north Fort Worth until last year. The mobile unit has been parked at the family's Keller home as Stephens and Peterson looked for a new location.
“I knew I wanted to still be in a brick and mortar. That way, we can sell year-round,” Stephens said. “We can still do online [orders] and we can take the trailer out when the weather is good.”
What's happening?
The store will offer a variety of wrapped candy and treats, similar to the more than 100 varieties offered inside the trailer. Stephens said they will rotate the offerings like they do with the mobile unit, adding seasonal sweets throughout the year.
Stephens Sweet Shoppe will take over the former Catherine Anne's Books location. The owners hope to open by Christmas, but that heavily dependent on construction and permitting.
Renovations started in October with flooring, windows, walls and the roof taking priority as the early repair projects. Stephens has posted photos of the progress of the renovation on the company's Facebook page.
What they're saying
The idea for the business came from one of their children years ago while doing a class project in junior high, Stephens said.
“This little middle school business plan continued to be discussed with my kids, and we elaborated on a middle school-level business plan into a small retail opportunity,” she said. “We were just dreaming and said, ‘Well, what if?’ They really drove me to put it in place and that this could be something.”
The background
When the family moved to Keller 13 years ago, Stephens said they were confident a candy store could be successful. Until they found a location they loved, they operated the candy cart. Stephens said about eight years ago, they looked at a spot at Keller Town Center, but it didn’t work out.
The business started with private and local community events. Recently, they started going to the Hilltop Food Truck Park in Northlake when not at festivals.
Stephens Sweet Shoppe sells a variety of candy from its mobile trailer. Owners Tina Stephens and Jason Peterson will soon open a brick-and-mortar location in Old Town Keller.Courtesy Tina Stephens
Due to the trailer's size, Stephens Sweet Shoppe fits in well between food trucks and retail vendors, she said. She added that when the weather is above 70 degrees, they do not bring chocolates to events due to the chance for them to melt.
Stephens also operated CAA Cleaning Services for the past 16 years, providing service in Keller and throughout northeast Tarrant County. Before CAA, she said she owned a different cleaning company.
