All Sweets and Treats in Sainte Genevieve

Sara’s Ice Cream is the place that you expect to find in Sainte Geneviève, which makes it all the more satisfying when you do.  It’s what makes you feel like you’ve arrived at a destination—that’s how important it is to the DNA of what we’re trying to build here.  Sara’s has been a fixture here since 1981 and it’s now under new ownership that has breathed even more life into the town’s favorite stop for locals and visitors alike. Set in the town’s de-facto center right across from Audubon’s Hotel and Restaurant, Sara’s will take you back to the good times when coffee was 10 cents —it still is at Sara’s — where malts needed heavy equipment — they still do at Sara’s —and you could get house-made sodas called phosphates — guess what?  You can get them at Sara’s. It’s the perfect spot to take a break while exploring Main Street—close to local shops, restaurants, and historic sites. Whether you’re after a quick cone or a hand-dipped shake, Sara’s Ice Cream delivers a sweet taste of Sainte Geneviève. Read more…

Sweet Things Sweet Shop At 242 Market Street in downtown Sainte Geneviève, Sweet Things Sweet Shop occupies a two-room historic 1860 building functioning as candy and toy store since the shop’s founding in 1985—making it a 40-year Ste. Genevieve institution that’s survived multiple economic cycles, ownership changes, and the rise of online shopping through consistent quality, mother-daughter family operation (since late 2013), and self-deprecating “The World’s Okayest Candy Store” branding that deliberately undersells genuinely exceptional hand-dipped chocolates, nostalgic penny candies, Jelly Belly selections by weight, novelty treats (sour cream and onion flavored crickets, anyone?), and carefully curated toys and children’s books. Sweet Things represents endangered species—the independent small-town candy shop where glass jars line shelves, chocolates are hand-dipped on-site using traditional techniques, ice-cold Coca-Colas come in old glass bottles, and the owners (mother and daughter team who live in town) actually know customers by name, recommend their personal favorites, provide directions to historic sites, and hand-deliver chocolate gifts within five miles of the store. As one longtime customer raved: “Walking into Sweet Things triggers childhood memories for adults while creating new ones for kids discovering candy that tastes exactly as good as it did decades ago.” 1860 Historic Building: Repository Read more…