The Candy Shoppe closing store front Saturday, moving to online-only sales

Those looking to satisfy a sweet tooth will have one less place to go in downtown Havre.

Ernie and Terri Biem, owners of The Candy Shoppe, will be closing their store in the Atrium Mall this Saturday and converting to online-only sales.

The Candy Shoppe is a franchise of Candy Bouquet International, which specializes in making candy bouquet arrangements. The Texas-based company’s website said it has more than 300 franchises around the globe.

The Biems said they made the decision to close their store and move their franchise to an online format after Valentine's Day.

Terri Biem said the move will also allow them to focus more attention on their bouquets.

Their business, which will be renamed The Candy Shoppe and Candy Bouquets, will either be done through a website or using Shopify, ecommerce software which allows vendors to sell their products through Facebook.

The Biems said they will continue to deliver locally and will ship worldwide.

The Biems said they will update their existing Candy Shoppe Facebook page with more details about their revamped business as the information becomes available.

The Biems, who had been longtime health care workers, purchased the candy store, Sweet Temptations, in September 2014, renaming it The Candy Shoppe.

When they bought the store, they cut back on some of their nonedible gifts, but expanded their stock of candy.

As they move into the world of online retail, the Biems said there are some things that they will miss about operating a store front.

They said people would often come in and chat with them.

“We’re going to miss the customer interaction, as far as that part is concerned,” Terri Biem said.