Robitaille’s Fine Candies — a family-owned and operated business best known for its chocolate “Presidential Inaugural Mints” and as a Carpinteria staple for more than 36 years — announced it will close its Linden Avenue store toward the end of this year. According to a statement from owners John and Tami Robitaille on Thursday, Nov. 7.

Before the store opened in a former hardware store in Carpinteria on New Year’s Day 1989, the Robitaille family was already making batches of candy in Santa Barbara County. In 1985, as President Ronald Reagan was about to be inaugurated for a second term, the Robitaille family legend celebrated the “50th Anniversary” of their famous chocolate mint wafers. It was consolidated with its selection as the “Official Mint of the Presidential Inaugural”. Chocolates had been a tradition at every presidential inauguration since then.

For the past 36 years, the store has been a mainstay on Carpinteria’s Main Street; locals and tourists alike stop by for chocolate turtles, peanut caramel clusters, coconut stacks, and countless homemade fudge options. Three generations of Robitaille have run the store, and Carmen Robitaille most recently handed it over to her son John, who runs the store with his wife, Tami, and their daughter, Victoria.

“When we first opened, we never imagined the great support, love and friendship this journey would bring,” the family wrote in a message announcing the closure. “It has been a real privilege to watch generations grow up with us, to see children who once ran with sandy feet now bring little ones of their own. “Every smile, every laugh, every story made us feel like our candy store was so much more than a business.”

The shop owners said they are “eternally grateful to have been a part of so many of your family experiences and life memories over the years” and thanked their loyal customers who have included the candy shop “as part of their engagements, weddings, baptisms, graduations, family reunions, holidays and more.” many special days.

The owners said they now hope to seize the opportunity to “start spending more time making memories with our growing family.”

Within five hours of the closure being announced on social media, more than 50 people shared their memories and support for the store in the comments. “We will miss you very much. Our children and grandchildren grew up with the Robitailles,” wrote one commenter; “This was hard to hear, I never thought in my life these doors would close,” another wrote.

The closure – like some chocolates over the years – is both bittersweet for the Robitaille family.

“It has been an absolute privilege to do business in downtown Carpinteria for 36 years and to make so many new friends who feel like family. In the family’s final message, we are especially grateful to all the residents who work for us, some experiencing their first job and others busy in their retirement years.

‘As the Carpinteria community, we truly appreciate your support over the years and look forward to seeing you in town,’ the message continued. “Even though it is time to close our doors, we will carry these memories with us forever. Thank you for supporting us, filling our shop with laughter, and being a part of our story.”

The store will officially close its doors on December 1, 2024.