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Qachbal Packages Personal Touch

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 13, 2008

Updated: 02/11/2008 08:22 pm

CHANNEL DISTRICT - Candis "Candy" Qachbal underestimated the pickiness of men last Valentine's Day. She made up gift baskets ahead of time, but the men who arrived at her store wanted to select each and every truffle and other goodie.

This week, Qachbal's Chocolatier is forgoing the pre-packaged.

"I was surprised," she said. "I thought men would grab whatever, but not so. They were very particular."

But then, she said, it's the personal touch that has kept her small Channelside Bay Plaza shop in business.

In December 2005, Qachbal realized a life's dream. After years of making candy for her family, she opened a shop with her husband, Mohammed. Two of her three daughters, Nicole Gibson and Crystal Kelley, also work there.

About half of the treats at Qachbal's are handmade, from chocolate-dipped pretzels to Toddles, a milk chocolate cookie with pecans and caramel.

Truffles from Joseph Schmidt, a San Francisco company, are about $3 each. Solid chocolate long-stem roses are $5 each, and a box of 12 chocolate-dipped strawberries for $38.95 have proved popular, Qachbal said.

The store, 615 Channelside Drive, Suite 119-B, is open most nights until 10 and until midnight Friday and Saturday because of its Channelside location. That's when people are hurrying to movies or restaurants in the complex and need a chocolate fix, she said.

For information, call (813) 223-5919.

Janis D. Froelich

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