About us
Chocolate, cookies and candy, these are "What Sweet Dreams Are Made Of" which just happens to be the slogan of Sweeteez llc located in Beckley, West Virginia. "I love to see the look on someone's face when they try one of our sweet creations for the first time", says Sharon Gravely owner, it is often a two part reaction with a partial closing of the eyes followed with a lengthy mmmmmmm. Sharon started pursing here sweet dreams six years ago, after 28 years as a pharmacy technician. "For years my mother and I would make candy during the Christmas season and give it to family and friends as gifts" Sharon recalls, making sweets is something that I have always enjoyed doing.
Starting Sweeteez in a small commercial kitchen constructed in her basement, Sharon wanted to create sweets that were unusual, like her Dream Sticks a fudge fantasy on a stick dipped in different chocolates or flavors, and then if you prefer, coated with pecans or the Coal Cookies, a dark chocolate and mint creation that looks like a lump of coal, but that is where the comparison ends. We often have companies give our products as gifts; we are able to personalize the labels to meet the needs of our customers.
"All of our product are completely home made" says Sharon, "most of the recipes we use were taught to me by my mother and to her by her mother".
Sweeteez continues to grow and sell those "Sweet Dreams" in gift shops throughout southern West Virginia. "We have done many anniversaries, wedding, and other special event because we are flexible and able to satisfy large and small needs" says Sharon, "We are also able to do baskets for those wanting to give a sweet treat for a gift or special occasion".
"Creating sweets is my hobby, career, and passion. It has been a true blessing to be able to pursue my dreams and make people smile all at the same time, not too many people get that chance."
Lest it be thought that consuming sweets is all about just making your tongue happy, consider this: chocolate contains a chemical called phenyl ethylamine, or PEA, which studies show associated with feelings of euphoria and bliss. Have a good day, get a raise, fall in love, the PEA levels in your brain shoot up.
We can't say that eating a Sweeteez creation will produce the same feelings, but it makes one happy just to think about having some, anyway!
Sweeteez officially opened in 2002, SweeteeZ really began with Sharon Gravely’s childhood spent baking with her mother and grandmother in the kitchen of her Beckley home. "Mom encouraged us to go into the kitchen and make whatever we wanted, as long as we cleaned up afterward," she said. During her 29 years as a pharmacy technician, Gravely continued to make goodies alongside her mother, especially as gifts during the holidays. Then the owner of Little Brick House in Beckley approached her about selling her sweet treats in the gift shop. Gravely installed a commercial kitchen and got to work.
The business grew, allowing her to bake full time. Today her treats can be special ordered or purchased in West Virginia shops where SweeteeZ are sold.
Her selections include such treats as coal cookies, fudge on a stick, bonbons, peanut butter delights, miniature cookies and snapping turtles – a delicious concoction of chocolate, caramel and subtle heat from cayenne pepper.
The coal cookies are in part a tribute to her grandfather, who worked as a coal miner. "People look at the hard, shiny surface and assume it’s licorice hard candy. Actually it’s a peppermint cookie," she said. "I worked on the recipe for three or four weeks, experimenting with different sugars, temperatures and other variations to get just the right look and taste."
"My coal cookies are in part a tribute to my grandfather, who was a West Virginia coal miner." - Sharon Gravely