Jun 17, 2024 By Melissa Gibson 3 min read

David and Anna Berg of Washington are continuing the legacy of Anna’s family.

It all started with chocolatier Peter Paradise launching the business in the 1920’s and eventually bringing his nephew Jake (Anna’s father) over from the Greek island of Leipsoi.

“My dad came from Greece in 1948 to work with his uncle. The uncle sold him the business when he retired. At that time, the shop was on Chestnut Street, but when I was in the first grade, dad moved the shop to the house I grew up in,” Anna said.

That childhood home at 1295 Donnan Ave. is where the shop remains.

When Anna’s father became ill in 1993, he knew it was time to pass the torch to his daughter and son-in-law.

“Dad said ‘If you want to keep it going, you’d better learn.’ We started working with him in the fall of 1993, and he passed away in February of 1994,” Anna said. “We’ve been doing it ever since.”

“It” is Paradise Confectionary, formally Paradise Candy, in Washington County. They create hand dipped, individually made chocolates.

For more than a century, they’ve made chocolate creams, chocolate-covered nuts, caramels and mint patties.

While some of the classics remain, the couple continues to grow and are willing to experiment with new combinations and ideas.

The Berg’s added chocolate covered pretzels, dipped almond biscotti and their popular Frozen World, a vanilla and chocolate ice cream treat the size of a tennis ball.

They have chocolate lollipops, chocolate covered popcorn and more.

“We’ve expanded a bit,” Anna said. “We do parties and wedding tables. We try new things, and it really takes an artistic ability. David is the artist between us. He took to it very well, and what we didn’t know, we’ve learned as we went.”

Of course, the Bergs go out of their way to find the best quality in chocolate and other supplies but most of all, they’re proud to continue the family tradition.

“I grew up helping open the store before school and remember the kids in the neighborhood stopping in on the weekends,” Anna said. “I think so many people enjoy the ‘old school’ little shop.”

In fact, not only have generations in Berg’s family continued the business, but generations of customers continue to come back to the store.

“We do see grandchildren and great-grandchildren of customers stop by. Holidays in particular are busy. I think Valentines Day gets busier every year, and it’s always popular at Christmas time,” according to Anna. “We’ve been very blessed.”

Anna said her two sons help regularly, and they’re hopeful someone in the family will want to carry on when she and David are ready to retire.

“When I was growing up, I never thought I’d be doing this, but as long as God gives me the energy and the strength, we love what we’re doing and we’ll keep going for as long as we can,” Berg said.

Paradise Confectionary accepts orders online and ships all over the world.

Visit https://www.paradiseconfectionery.com/ for more information.