New candy store coming to Austintown

Entrepreneur and chocolate enthusiast Lori Gavalier is opening a ‘Yum Yum Tree by Gorant Chocolatier’ store in the Weston Center Plaza, in the center of Austintown.

Gavalier, a member of Austintown Growth Foundation, gave an update at the foundation’s October meeting.

Gavalier said the store will showcase the full line of Gorant’s chocolates and candies as well as an array of greeting cards and gifts.

“Austintown Gorant Chocolatier” is scheduled to open in late October with a grand opening celebration in November.

It is located at 5539 Mahoning Ave. in the Weston Center Plaza, near Panera Bread, at the corner of Mahoning Avenue and state Route 46.

“When Gorant’s stores closed locally it left a void in our community for the luscious chocolates and candies we all had the privilege of enjoying for decades,” said Gavalier. “I wanted to bring that experience back to the residents of the Mahoning Valley.”

There will also be a new service offering a creation of Gorant chocolate buffets for special occasions such as banquets, parties and weddings.

The new store will also feature the addition of an art gallery featuring original paintings created by local artists.