Shore to Shore: A sweet spotlight with quite the crunch

DELMAR, Del. — In the newest edition of Shore to Shore, WMDT is showcasing a business that is all treats and no tricks this Halloween.

Sponsored by Schell Brothers.

We’re shining a sweet spotlight on a local business right here in Delmar. JB Crunch is serving up some of the latest treat’s trending on social media, from dirty sodas and freeze-dried candy to Dubai chocolate.

Owner Jessica Bueres said her sweet treat journey began when she was working as a pharmacy technician. She would scroll through TikTok, see all the delicious goodies and couldn’t resist trying them herself. Bueres said her love for candy goes way back.

“I have always been obsessed with candy,” Bueres said. “First thing coming home from school when I was little, in the kitchen, cooking, baking candy. Obsessed.”

She said seeing freeze-dried candy online inspired her to give it a try. She started by ordering Skittles and Starburst, but she said the freeze-drying process not only expands the candy but also intensifies its flavor.

“It was just like the flavor of it was life-changing,” Bueres said. “Like, enhanced it, and then the crunch.”

As someone who loves different textures, she said the combination is what makes the treats stand out.

“I’m a texture person, so, like, it was crunchy, but then it melts in your mouth and you’re like, whoa,” she said. “The flavor is like a hundred times more intensified.”

She freeze-dries just about anything, including Peeps, sour gummy worms and fruit roll-ups. The list goes on. But that’s not the only candy she carries. For those keeping up with the latest social media trends, this little shop in Delmar has plenty to offer.

“Dubai [chocolate] is top,” Bueres said. “I can say the pastries, the fruit roll-ups freeze-dried and the Dubai. You can’t go wrong with all three of those.”

The creativity doesn’t stop there. JB Crunch also makes dirty sodas and dirty Alani drinks for customers looking for a quick pick-me-up in the middle of the day. Bueres said customers can choose from more than 50 flavors, with plenty of room to get creative.

“We have over 50 flavors that you can choose from,” she said. “We do like a marshmallow fluff flatlining on the cup.”

She said she wants customers to have the freedom to experiment rather than feel limited by a traditional menu.

“Whatever your mind creates is what I wanted to do here,” Bueres said. “It’s not like, have a strict menu. I want you to come in and be childlike, you know, like experiment.”

The store itself is also an experience. From floating freeze-dried gummy worms to Skittles, there is no shortage of colorful sights to explore. Bueres said she wanted the shop to create a memorable first impression for everyone who walks through the door.

“I want it to create a fun, colorful, you know, like a wow moment when you come in,” she said.

She said the reactions from customers, especially children and adults experiencing the store for the first time, are part of what makes it special.

“It never fails, especially with, like, new people that come into the door or the kids,” Bueres said. “But the fun part is the adults that come in, they’re like, wait a minute.”

For Bueres, JB Crunch is a place where she and her family can let their creativity run free.

“I’ve produced something with love is what it is down to,” she said. “I take pride in the quality of ingredients and making sure you know that my girls are on it when they put something out.”

Seeing the finished products makes all the hard work worthwhile. What makes the business even more special is that Bueres gets to share the experience with her family. Each of her children has a role in the business that they enjoy.

“I love to have my kids a part of it,” she said. “I feel like it’s super important to have them here.”

Bueres said her children are involved in nearly every part of the business, from making candy to helping customers.

“If they weren’t in school today, they would be here right now,” she said. “A lot of people can catch them here all summer with me side by side.”

“They do everything,” Bueres said. “They help me with the candy, the register, scooping ice cream, cleaning, all that fun stuff.”

To learn more about JB Crunch, visit the business’s website.