For 76 years, Ames residents have been able to stop by a locally owned chocolate shop and pick up a little treat, but Monday was the last day for Temptations on Main.

Temptations relied on other sales to allow it to offer ice cream cones for $1. That business has declined during the past few years.

“It was what really [helped] us keep prices low,” said owner Tim Coble.

When Coble and his wife Janice took over the business six years ago, they reached new business markets that hadn’t been touched before. These companies would buy a chocolate basket for the holidays for their employees or send them to clients or other things like that.

In the past few years with the economy not doing as well as before, chocolates were some of the extras that had been cut from budgets.

“The first thing you do is tighten up on extravagant things, and let’s face it, candy and chocolate are one of the things they cut back on,” Tim said.

The Cobles have owned the shop for the last six years. They live in Des Moines but have been active in the Ames community. Tim was the president of the Main Street Cultural District, and they attend a variety of events around town as well as ISU games and events.

Both of the owners were sympathetic to what the businesses around Ames are going through. Both expressed that if it’s chocolate versus jobs, then closing their doors is much easier.

“We understand what they are all up against; they are making decisions to lay people off and all kinds of things, and so this is one little piece of the mix,” Janice said. “But it does all fit together.”

The Cobles are still working on their plans for once the shop is closed, but they are excited to see what happens in Ames during the next few years. They are still planning on being involved around the community.