ROANOKE, Va. – Valentine’s Day is here, and if you’re still looking for the perfect present, look no further than chocolatepaper in downtown Roanoke.
“Valentine’s Day is one of our favorite holidays around here. Yes, we are busy and so many exciting things that people want to share for Valentine’s Day with their Valentines, their Galentines and just about everybody,” said chocolatepaper co-owner Melissa Mays.
Chocolatepaper sells every sweet you can think of buying for someone special.
This year, the shop sold more than 10,000 pieces of chocolate. Last year, chocolatepaper had almost 2,000 transactions.
Mays also sells cards at her shop. She says her store sold more than 800 cards so far, and last year, people bought more than 1,200.
She said the couple weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day are very busy for them, including the three days before but they are prepared.
“Our idea is we want you to be able to have something grab and go. We also did a corporate order for Valentine’s gifts for their clients, so we really are ready,” said Mays.
Many of you said you love this store in downtown Roanoke and come here all the time to buy your Valentine’s Day Gifts.
John Garland said he is buying five gifts, including for his daughters and daughters-in-law.
“I’m gonna get truffles for a few people, and then for my special person, it has to be semi-sweet with nuts,” said Garland.
Meanwhile, Jakeb Deaner is looking for presents for his fiancé.
“Just anything that might catch my eye. Catch her eye, I guess. Some candy chocolate stuff like that,” Deaner.
People are expected to spend $27.5 billion on Valentine’s Day this year, according to an annual survey by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. On average, people plan on spending $188.81.
People I spoke with said they would spend approximately $100.
Meanwhile, when it comes to Valentine’s Day plans, some of you are going out.
“That evening, we’re going to a Valentine’s party with friends and a little celebration of that and then have a weekend. That’s fortunate that Valentine’s is right before the weekend. So, then you get the weekend to spend together too,” said Garland.
“Probably go to dinner that evening somewhere,” said Deaner.
Co-owner Melissa Mays with chocolatepaper said she has other plans though.
“I probably will be very very excited to relax on Valentine’s Day or maybe our Valentine’s will maybe be on Sunday,” said Mays.
