How about this combination: Books + candy and ice cream. Does it get much better than that?

When Kaitlynn and I stumbled upon this book store in Weirton, imagine our surprise when we learned there was also ice cream. I mean, if you're trying to plan my perfect home-away-from-home, make it have books, coffee and ice cream, and I'm pretty much set.

When walking into Weirton Book Company, you see giant jars of all kinds of candies, gummies and other goodies. A long freezer full of ice cream occupies the right side of the space, and then down a level, there are rows and rows of books.

There were two books in particular I had a hard time walking away from (saving them for another time), but of course, I wasn't going to pass up the ice cream.

They use ice cream from Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream and have a ton of different flavors. Fat Elvis, S'mores, Caramel Apple Pie, Pumpkin Pecan Pie, Salty Caramel Truffle. Obviously I had a tough time deciding, but I ultimately went with "This Sh!t Just Got Serious" and "Salty Caramel Truffle." The first, not only do I lie the name, but it has "smooth salted caramel ice cream brimming with rich sea salt fudge and salted cashews."

Two heaping piles of ice cream later, I was swimming in a salted caramel heaven. Ribbons of caramel, chewy truffles, everything that a caramel-lover ... loves.

So, I could spend some serious time here. I didn't come as much as I wished when I lived in the Northern Panhandle, but what a great place.

And, if you want to pick up just some red gummi bears? They got you covered. What about that obscure book about West Virginia monsters? Yep. And profanity-laced ice cream? You betcha.

Have you been? What are your favorite gets? Next time, I want to try one of those ice cream concoctions made with the yummy flavors!


Grade: A