Gloria Fero held a box of drooping and dented Ice Cube chocolate candies that her husband tried to save, but she said they were unsalvageable. In a nearby self-serve unit, malted milk balls, chocolate-covered caramels and chocolate-covered nuts show signs of a whitish hue on the brown chocolate, indicating a melt and hardening. The store’s high daytime temperatures caused the chocolate to melt, then the cool nighttime temperatures allowed the chocolate to harden again, causing the white color.

The store has dozens of bins filled with a variety of taffy flavors, which all now need to be pitched because of the heating and cooling, Fero said.

Marc Fero said he hasn’t had a chance to conduct an inventory to assess losses, but Pereira said the owners of the Depot are planning to lend a financial hand to help the store owners who have lost not only merchandise but more than two weeks of sales.

Customers continued to wander up to the door and peek in but turn and walk away when they read the store closure sign.