So you’ve forgotten Valentine’s day again?  Well you’re in luck!  Samuel’s is around the corner…  

Samuel’s sweet shop is one of the many things that makes Rhinebeck one of the “most charming towns in America.” It is one of the first stops tourists make when they come to our little village. The incredibly nostalgic aesthetic of the shop’s interior brings many back to their adolescence.

John Traver is one of the owners of Samuel’s. He grew up in Rhinebeck and began working at Samuel’s at 15. That’s one of the store’s values, hiring local teens and young adults to run it.

Traver worked closely with the store’s owner, Ira Gutner.

The store was a favorite of the town’s businesses, and many children and adults would come and enjoy the bounty of chocolates and candies. John, like many teenagers moved onto college to get his degree. He eventually found himself back at Samuel’s as manager.

Ira, the original owner of Samuel’s, passed suddenly in 2014. Rhinebeck was devastated by this loss. That left the small store battling hard times, despite its prestige in town. So a group of dedicated Samuel’s customers together bought the shop to bring it back to its original glory. A new logo, a new name, a new espresso machine slowly became incorporated into the legacy of the store.

Some of the new owners are large celebrities, like Jeffrey Dean Morgan of the Walking Dead and Paul Rudd from countless romantic comedies. Those prominent individuals brought national attention to Samuel’s. This brings an influx of visitors to the petite shop.

Samuel’s also made a fantastic transition to social media. They have an online store and a popular Instagram. With all of these modern additions to their brand, the store is still nostalgic and homey to anyone that enters the tiny shop.

One of the many ways Samuel’s differentiates itself from any grocery store selling chocolate, is their personal touch:

You can customize your own box of chocolates with handmade sweets made by the store itself.

You can enjoy a terrific chai latte made by a local student.

You can be artisanal pastries and pies from local bakers. The store promises local goods made by happy local people.

Samuel’s sweet shop is a gemstone in the treasure chest that is our small town in Rhinebeck. We are incredibly lucky to have them.