Expanded hours aren't unusual for candy stores at Valentine's Day. But when did you last visit one in the middle of the night?

The lights will be burning as early as 2 a.m. Friday at Chocolate, Etc. in Wyckoff, where Jay Vidockler and a few of his friends will spend the night dipping long-stemmed strawberries into bowls of melted chocolate. The shop will sell 300 to 500 pounds of chocolate-dipped strawberries by Saturday, and to meet the demand while keeping the gifts fresh, there's no choice but work overnight, Vidockler said.

"We learned from the past that the guy can't wake up Saturday morning and go out shopping. He has to be ready that morning," Vidockler said. While he doesn't expect customers at 2 a.m. — "they'll start coming in when the commute starts," he said — he'll eagerly wait on people who do their shopping overnight. For do-it-yourselfers, Vidockler said, the shop will sell the strawberries and chocolate separately and provide dips. Chocolate, Etc. also has chocolate-dipped Rice Krispie treat hearts, kiss pops and chocolate hearts, all wrapped for gift-giving.

Vidockler and his wife, Marcia, bought the shop 12 years ago and doubled its space six years ago, adding a party room for chocolate-themed events. Previously, the couple had a candy kiosk at Paramus Park mall.

— Bill Pitcher