Patricia and John Kulpin didn’t know they’d be riding the crest of a trend when they opened Angel Kisses in St. Charles.
“We’ve always just loved angels,” said Patricia, who used to own a donut shop in Batavia with her husband. (Strangely enough, that store was named Dimples Donuts and, she said, dimples means angel kisses in German.) At the time, they had no idea they’d eventually end up owning a religious gift store that sells just about everything in the angel motif, plus books and tapes.
But lots of their old donut customers, among others, come in and shop at the new store, she said, which also has the distinction of being the place author Joan Wester Anderson held her first signing of her best-selling book, “Where Angels Walk.” She will be returning to the store from 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 20 to sign her two new books, “Where Miracles Happen” and “An Angel to Watch Over Me,” a children’s book.
“We can hardly keep her (first) book in stock anymore,” said Patricia, pointing to the shelf where they keep all the angel books, including ones by Billy Graham, Sophie Burnham and others.
The Kulpins search hard for the large selection of angel items they carry in stock. For the angel fancier, there are angel pillows, T-shirts, stickers, vases, tree toppers, ceramics, pins, soaps, blankets, doorstops, mugs, clocks and candy dishes, to name a few.
The Guardian Angel line of jewelry is a fast seller. Pieces come with explanations of the figurine’s wing positions. For instance, one wing spread may mean hope while another means protector.
One of the best things about specializing in angels, say the Kulpins, are the stories that people come in and relate about their own angel experiences.
“Some are happy and some have a lot of sadness and need comforting,” said Patricia, who said she doesn’t mind that at all.
“That’s our mission,” she said.
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Angel Kisses, 504 E. Main St., St. Charles, is open 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday. 377-0588.
