Tara Shea and Jen Reuss, friends since sixth grade, always wanted to own a store together. Shea was a health care consultant and Reuss worked in advertising. “We’re foodies at heart,” says Shea, who had noticed the vacant storefront near where she lives in the North End. The two rented and renovated the space and recently opened Cocoanuts Boston, a chocolate and nut store, down the street from stalwarts Sulmona Meat Market and Polcari’s Coffee. The shop features chocolates by local chocolatiers, such as Brookline’s Yes, whose truffles are infused with Guinness stout and shaped like teeny glasses of beer (six for $10.50) and dark chocolate candies are filled with pomegranate ganache ($1.75 each). Buttery sea salt and coconut toffees come from Little Bits Toffee in Weymouth (6 ounces for $12). Bins are stocked with roasted nuts and nut mixes ($11.99 per pound). For a spicy jolt, try the mix kicked up with wasabi. The airy store has shelves lined with pretty bags of sweets. A favorite is dark-chocolate-covered pretzels filled with caramel. Just ogling the array feels like an indulgence. Cocoanuts Boston, 28 Parmenter St., Boston, 857-263-7768.
ANN TRIEGER KURLAND