In Butler County, there is a rich history of candy stores and chocolatiers, and Easter is when they are at their zenith.

“It's like the Super Bowl of chocolate,” Barry Cummings, owner of Cummings Candy and Coffee said. “Christmastime is wonderful and Valentine's Day ... but Easter is the big one.”

Cummings said his shop has been making its own chocolate for generations.

The business was founded in 1905 by Cummings' great uncle after he emigrated to Butler from Sparta, Greece. It passed to his father after World War II and finally to him, 22 years ago. It is still in its original location on Main Street, though it's added two locations since then.

“I think we're the second oldest business in Butler,” he said.

Cummings Candy and Coffee has seen scores of Easters in Butler, and the area residents know that every year, around this time, the shop breaks out the traditional chocolate molds, discovered generations ago by the store's founder.

“The unique thing that we do is we make these dolls, and they're little boys and little girls,” Cummings said. “It was something my great uncle picked up from a salesman, and 112 years later here we are talking about it.”

The chocolate dolls are intricately crafted with the tiniest details accounted for by the antique chocolate molds.

“And they're kind of creepy,” said Cummings. “I've never seen them anywhere else.”

Parents have been giving their children Cummings chocolate dolls for generations he said.

“I remember getting them as a kid. You know I felt weird biting the head off this girl. But I did, and it tasted good.”

A few blocks down on Jefferson Street, Peter's Chocolate shop is also abuzz with Easter shoppers.

Peter's is another historical chocolate shop, founded back in 1938.

“We're celebrating our 80th anniversary next year,” said Sandy Steinheiser, owner of Peter's.

Steinheiser also said that Easter is their biggest time of year, with Christmas coming in a close second.

For Easter, the Peter's staff makes its own proprietary chocolate eggs.

Adam Davis, Steinheiser's son, said there are many kinds of eggs they make, and the way they make it depends on the type of egg.

“With a nougat, caramel, fudge, you layer the ingredients then put it through an enrober,” he said. “That coats everything in chocolate.”

Davis works seasonally when his family needs help with holiday traffic.

A few days before Easter, the store is packed with customers looking to finish their Easter shopping.