Monterey candy shop reopens under shelter-in-place order

MONTEREY, Calif. (KION) Monterey County's shelter-in-place order has been extended until May 31, but some small, essential businesses that had closed are opening back up.

Carousel Candies, on Old Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey, is one of them.

“I just love how they have a bunch of, like, different chocolate treats because I love chocolate,” customer Emma Von Ruden said.

Von Ruden said she's happy the shop reopened this weekend.

“My dad asked me this morning on our walk if I wanted to go and, of course, my answer was ‘yes,’” Von Ruden said.

Owner Lloyd Elves said he decided to reopen the shop after the Fisherman's Wharf Association pointed out his business technically fell under the food service category of essential businesses.

“Candy is food," Elves said. "You know, sweets are food. You know, it’s food-related.”

But the process of reopening a small business right now isn't all so sweet. Employees say it involves hard work.

“More sanitizing for the customers," employee Hirby Mendoza said. "So they can be happy. So they can feel more protected.”

And beyond the extra cleaning, they're limiting the number of customers allowed inside to four at a time.

“We’re abiding by all the laws and regulations," Elves said. "And, you know, we want the public to be safe and to feel safe.”

“If there were more, it’d get, like, really crowded," Von Ruden said. "And that’s not good for this time right now.”

But customers said the extra precautions are worth it.

“It just gives you something good to enjoy during this time,” Von Ruden said.