In May of 2022, my wife Beth and I took over ownership of Aunt Belle's Confectionery. Beth grew up in Park Rapids. She has fond memories of getting gummies and bulk chocolate from Cuzzin's and then crossing the street to get the freshest turtles and caramels at Aunt Belle's. There seems to be an invisible sidewalk connecting the two stores.

She graduated from Park Rapids and pursued a degree at the University of North Dakota. She and I were also members of the UND swim team and this is where our love story started, or as she says "we met in our Speedos!" We were married in July of 2004. She continued on with her masters degree at the University of South Dakota and I started my first job as an elementary teacher.

In the spring of 2007, Beth was offered a job as a Physician Assistant at the local clinic in Park Rapids. I was also able to continue teaching in the area so we moved back to her sweet little hometown. We are so grateful for the opportunity to be raising our four children-Carter, Brady, Lauren, and Maggie by all the lakes up north and most importantly near family. We may both have a slight sweet tooth and passed the trait to all of our children.

In all honesty, we were not looking for a shift in a career path. The opportunity to take over Aunt Belle's literally fell out of the sky and into our laps, SO here we are-business owners. I am currently on a leave from teaching and although Beth continues to work at the clinic, she spends many hours at the store. We both love visiting with the customers, tourists, regulars, and friends and family. We also love that our children can work with us, so it truly is a family business which is very rewarding, even if there are a few challenges. I will always be a teacher at heart, so the fact that I still get to work with the youth in the area is an added bonus.

Aunt Belle's has been a highlight place to visit for almost 40 years in Park Rapids. The smell of chocolate instantly hits when you open the door. We look forward to serving you and satisfying your taste buds for the next 40 years.

Bryan and Beth Hirt