Sallie’s Whistle Stop Sweet Shop – Madison’s Candyland
MADISON – The fudge, cookies and other delectables at Sallie’s Whistle Stop Sweet Shop undeniably are decadent and delicious.
Sallie Walker has nicknamed her shop, “The Sweetest Stop in Madison, Alabama.” “It’s such a happy place to work and play,” she said. Michelle Rallecca works at the 104 Main Street shop. Original owner Lynn Crumbley stops by when they need extra help.
“During the holidays, I was always the one to make gift baskets for friends with sweet, gooey, chocolatey yummy stuff,” Walker said. “Growing up, I watched and sometimes helped my mom, grandmother and aunt make goodie baskets for everyone in the family.” Walker also gained experience during college by managing a small cafe in San Francisco. “Lynn Crumbley taught me a lot when I took over the shop,” Walker said.
“We are ‘taste pushers’ – not hard sellers at the shop. We welcome all guests to taste our fresh fudge and gelato flavors. We do hand-make most products using the freshest ingredients and real sugar, sweet butter, finest chocolate and caramel,” she said.
Salted caramel fudge is very popular, along with Oreo bon-bons and dark chocolate sea-salted caramels. Walker’s favorite is walnut caramel clusters with milk or dark chocolate poured on top.
Standard choices for gelato are chocolate-covered espresso bean, Tahitian vanilla, dark fudge and cookies-and-cream. New flavors constantly revolve with tastes like pistachio, carrot cake, strawberry and raspberry sorbeto.
And the shop tempts shoppers with much more, like chocolate-dipped Oreos and other cookies, root beer floats, popcorn and a bulk candy station. Sallie creates custom gift baskets and favors for weddings and parties.
Guests enjoy the old-fashioned choo-choo train that rambles along a track suspended from the ceiling. “It’s fun to watch young and old enjoy. It’s even more fun to turn it on for folks who don’t know it’s up there,” she said.
During December, Walker will host a holiday workshop for making gingerbread cookies and a gingerbread house. Spaces are limited, so contact her for availability.
Her husband Michael is a contractor at NASA, which brought them to the Madison area. Along with California, Sallie has lived in Japan and Washington state. Her son Duane (D.J.) Wells, 29, of San Diego, runs a cattle ranch. Son Derek Wells, 20, works alongside his brother at the ranch.
Sallie’s Whistle Stop Sweet Shop is open Tuesday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. “We’re experimenting with staying open later on Saturday. We’re open ‘by chance’ on Sunday and Monday,” Walker said.
For more information call 256-325-8838 and watch for specials on Facebook and Instagram.
