Topeka Businesses Gear Up for Valentine's Day Rush

Local chocolate shop Hazel Hill Chocolate prepares months in advance for the busy holiday season.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Local businesses in Topeka, Kansas are feeling the Valentine's Day rush, with Hazel Hill Chocolate starting preparations as early as Christmas. Owner Nick Xidis said his team has added a third shift to keep up with the surge in demand for their chocolate products, especially chocolate-covered strawberries which account for about half of their recent sales.

Why it matters

Valentine's Day is a crucial time of year for many local businesses, especially those in the food and retail sectors. The ability of shops like Hazel Hill Chocolate to meet the spike in customer demand during this holiday period can make or break their annual revenue.

The details

Hazel Hill Chocolate has produced and sold roughly 1,000 pounds of chocolate products in just the past three days leading up to Valentine's Day. The shop is focused on keeping their shelves stocked and ensuring no customer leaves empty-handed, even though the intense work schedule can be exhausting for the staff.

  • Hazel Hill Chocolate began preparing for Valentine's Day as early as Christmas.
  • In the past three days, the shop has produced and sold around 1,000 pounds of chocolate products.

The players

Hazel Hill Chocolate

A local chocolate shop in Topeka, Kansas that is experiencing a surge in demand for its products, especially chocolate-covered strawberries, ahead of Valentine's Day.

Nick Xidis

The owner of Hazel Hill Chocolate who said the team has added a third shift to keep up with the increased customer orders for the holiday.

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What they’re saying

“We really want to make sure, even though it's a premium product, that we've got something for everybody in this community.”

— Nick Xidis, Owner, Hazel Hill Chocolate (KSNT)

The takeaway

Hazel Hill Chocolate's ability to ramp up production and staffing to meet the Valentine's Day demand showcases the importance of advance planning and operational flexibility for small businesses during peak holiday seasons.