History
More than a century-and-a-half long the story of Velatis is rich with history. It was established in Richmond prior to the Civil War. The company moved to Washington in 1866 following the destruction of the original store during the burning of Richmond's business district. Mary and Salvatore Velati opened the first DC store at Ninth and G Sts. NW, where it operated for more than one hundred years. Customers included the wives of Presidents, stars of stage and screen, and the usual mix of every day Washingtonians. They arrived on foot, by carriage, limousine, and streetcar until subway construction propelled a move to Woodward & Lothrop department store. The caramels were made at the store until its closure in 1996. The Servais family, sixth generation Washingtonians, bought the trademarked recipes and in 2009 established Velatis' new home in Silver Spring on the edge of DC. Older than the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial, Velatis continues to be a part of Washington's story.
Specialties
Velatis offers two distinct types of caramels in a variety of flavors. The traditional