Local Businesses Know How Sweet It Is in Licking County
food, goumas candyland, licking county, velvet ice cream, whit's frozen custard,
Life in Licking County sure is sweet, thanks to confectioners Goumas Candyland, Velvet Ice Cream and Whit’s Frozen Custard. The three family-owned companies have established themselves locally with high-quality, handcrafted treats. There’s sweet satisfaction, too, in the fact that all three have seen their markets grow beyond the borders of Licking County.
Goumas Candyland, with stores in Heath and Newark, has roots that date back to 1911, when Greek immigrant George Stamas opened the Busy Bee and began making fine chocolates. When Gus Goumas came along and asked Stamas for permission to marry his daughter Bessie, it was granted on the condition that Goumas learn the art of candymaking. He did.
When Gus and Bessie Goumas inherited her father’s candy shop in 1952, they renamed it Goumas Candyland and kept right on making and selling candy. Bessie – now 88 years old – still comes in to work several times a week. “She’s still the boss,” says Marilyn Goumas of her mother-in-law. Marilyn Goumas helps run the family’s store in Heath, where the chocolates are made.
“All our candy is handmade and hand-dipped,” she continues. “Our specialties are English toffee and caramel turtles, but we also make nut clusters, truffles and our own vanilla caramels. We sell about 500 pounds of candy every week.”
The company ships its original-recipe chocolates all over the world, and folks come from all over to treat their tastebuds at Goumas Candyland.
“I’ve been coming here from Michigan for almost 60 years,” says loyal customer Peter Coutsos. “Goumas candy is one of the things that keeps me coming back. It’s the best.”
Velvet Ice Cream, available in grocery stores in 26 states, also makes its home – appropriately enough – in Licking County. With annual gross sales of about $20 million, the fourth-generation ice cream dynasty is Ohio’s largest independent ice cream maker.
It’s also a popular tourism destination. From May through October, about 160,000 visitors tour Velvet Ice Cream’s manufacturing operations, located in the historic Ye Olde Mill in Utica.
“The mill was built in 1817,” says Andre Dager, guest relations coordinator. “It’s been a landmark since before our family bought it in 1960.” There’s an old-fashioned ice cream parlor on-site, as well as a visitors’ center and museum with fun, interactive exhibits that document the history of Ye Olde Mill and Velvet Ice Cream. On the tour, guests witness the eight steps of ice cream production.
“We like to tell our story,” Dager says. “The tour also gives us a way to connect with the consumer and make the production process real for them.”
Velvet’s signature flavors include Butter Pecan and Cashew, Buckeye Classic, Vanilla Lovers Trio and, just introduced, Chocolate Lovers Trio.
A relative newcomer to the Licking County dessert scene, Whit’s Frozen Custard is, nevertheless, enjoying sweet success. Founders Chuck and Lisa Whitman opened their flagship store in Granville in March 2003. Now there are four Whit’s franchises in other Ohio cities, with more to come.
Crafting the best frozen custard was a passion of Chuck Whitman’s, and he spent years perfecting his recipe. The line of customers outside the shop every day proves he got it right.
The difference between custard and ice cream is density, Lisa Whitman says. Custard is made with a lot of cream in a process that prevents air from getting into the mix. The result is a thick, smooth dessert that fans say tastes richer than ice cream.
Whit’s Frozen Custard is made fresh daily in the store and comes in vanilla, chocolate and the flavor of the day.
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Story by Carol Cowan
