We all know some generous celebrities who unhesitatingly spent a good amount of money for a charity or for anything with a good cause.
But stars like Paul Rudd and Jeffrey Dean Morgan are from a different breed in terms of generosity and of course, pure kindness.
Samuel’s Sweet Shop in Rhinebeck, New York is known for the establishment prides itself in its products like great coffee, different types of sweets, and a bunch more. But if you are a regular customer, you’d know the store isn’t just about their great products but more about their sense of community.
Unfortunately, its original owner, Ira Gutner, passed away in April of 2014. Everyone was shocked by her sudden passing, that includes Samuel’s Sweet Shop’s regular customers Paul Rudd, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and their spouses, Julie Rudd and “One Tree Hill” star Hilarie Burton.
A few months after, they purchased the little sweet store in December 2014.
It’s not about the profit but more about saving it from shutting down. The store isn’t just a store but an integral of the community, that’s why Rudd and Morgan bought it. They wanted Samuel’s Sweet Shop to continue serving the community.
Rudd and Morgan are both residents of Hudson Valley and both of them, together with their families, were regular customers of the store. The “The Walking Dead” villain, Morgan is a coffee lover, while “Antman” Rudd always brings his family to the store and at Samuel’s tent at the Dutchess County Fair.
Morgan even shared that when he and Hilarie started having their regular coffee at Samuel’s Sweet Shop, Gutner’s company made them feel like they were sipping coffee in the comfort of their own home.
“We just got each other. Saving Samuel’s is one of the coolest things we have done,” he said.
Another couple, Andy Ostroy and Phoebe Jonas joined forces with the first two couples in saving the store from closing down.
Big stars with humble hearts.
Morgan, who plays “Negan” on “The Walking Dead,” even promoted the store by wearing a Samuel’s hat on an episode of “Talking Dead,” a talk show that follows each episode of “The Walking Dead.”
He also brought a Samuel’s gift basket while promoting the shop and Rhinebeck on his TV guesting at “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.”
“We couldn’t buy an endorsement like that, with a national television audience,” said Mary Kay Vrba, president of Dutchess Tourism.
Rudd, on the other hand, also promoted the store a few years back while he was promoting his movie “Ant-Man and The Wasp.”
Rudd isn’t just a co-owner of Samuel’s Sweet Shop but also works at the register occasionally. To him, the best thing about being an owner of a candy shop such as the Samuel’s is “getting my favorite holiday candy in June.” As for his wife, “the magic of Samuel’s, especially during the holidays, makes me feel like a little girl again.”
For Hilarie, the real essence of owning the store isn’t just about the everyday profit but more about giving back to the community who’s loved the store for over two decades.
“Samuel’s strives to be the trophy case for all the talented people we have in our community,” she said.
Watch the video below to see how Morgan promoted their store during his guesting at “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”
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