If you’d ask just about any parent in Bridgeport if they wanted their child to be going to a bar the night of homecoming, prom or even for a graduation party the answer would almost certainly be an emphatic no. If you asked those same parents about going to the “bar” at Missy Skinner Koon’s house after those same activities, heads would be going up and down.

 

And for good reason.

 

For most of the past 14 years, Koon has created a tradition that has been one of a very sweet variety and one that hundreds have gotten to take part in. The only real requirement, in most cases, is that you had to be a friend of one of Missy Koon’s children and be going to one of those events.

 

If that was the case, then you got to take part in a bit of confectionary heaven right here in Bridgeport. Most important, it didn’t cost anyone a thing other than some of their time.

 

For nearly a decade and a half (with the exception of one year), the aforementioned events have included a bar event created by Koon. The bar event is a “Dessert Bar.” From what I’ve been told, even the pictures don’t do it justice.

 

Here’s the thing, the dessert bar wasn’t set up because Koon is a frustrated cook who would like to have her own restaurant business. Actually, it was done out of something a little more motherly.

 

“I always liked being there with my kids and sometimes kids can’t socialize when you’re at dinner because you might be sitting at one end of a table too far away from a lot of the others. When you have this dessert bar, you could come over and get a plate and mingle,” said Koon. “Whether it was here or setting it up at another house the kids would mingle and I’d get a chance to talk with my own kids and their friends.

 

“The kids really love it,” she continued. “I know when I posted pictures from this year’s homecoming I had some of Johnny’s friends send me messages about how much they missed it.”

 

What those that have graduated have missed started 14 years ago when Koon’s oldest daughter Jessica began at Bridgeport High School in 2005. It carried forward with her son John and it’s coming to an end as daughter Kenzie is set to graduate this year. In between, there was a one-year period where there was no overlap.

 

Initially, every dessert bar was held at the Koon household. The students would go out to dinner and before going to the dance, they headed back to Missy’s house for some sweet indulgence.

 

Now, there are some changes. Often times her children gather at the home of another resident where dinner is prepared. Because of that, Koon – if needed – will take her show on the road. She’s also set up at the Bridgeport Conference Center where the prom after activities have taken place and that (along with some treats at Kenzie’s graduation) could happen one more time this year.

 

“Last year I was able to do prom because Kenzie was a junior and the juniors are the ones that set up for prom so I took dessert there and they went along with the desserts the (Bridgeport) Conference Center had up,” said Koon. “I’m hoping with her being a senior that won’t be a problem. Regardless, I’ll probably do something.”

 

Here’s the thing. Her something isn’t a morning in the kitchen. It’s actually a complex system similar to getting ready for the holidays.

 

“It takes me about two and a half days to get everything ready,” said Koon. “The last thing I do are the chocolate covered strawberries a few hours before I expect kids to be here. They’re the hit of the bar.”

 

Along with the strawberries and what’s mentioned above, Koon’s bar is covered in chocolate. There are chocolate covered pretzels, chocolate covered rice crispy treats, peanut butter Ritz crackers dipped in chocolate, butter cookies drizzled with chocolate, chocolate covered marshmallows, and few items without chocolate including peanut clusters and pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese icing.

 

“We’ve had hundreds of kids here and I think they all have liked it … The parents are pretty appreciative too,” said Koon, a lifelong city resident. “I got kind of teary-eyed doing it this year knowing it’s coming to an end. Maybe they’ll have a winter formal and I can do it then. Regardless, it’s been a whole lot of fun and it’s sad to come to an end.”

 

The end is sad for anyone who wanted to take part and didn’t and those who did and won’t get to again. However, there’s a glimmer of hope business could resume in the future beyond the possibility of prom, graduation or a winter dance during Kenzie’s last year.

 

“My grandson is in pre-K right now,” she said of Ty Koon, already in the running for greatest name of all time. “I guess that’s a glimmer of hope because this dessert bar has been my baby.”

 

I have a feeling when baby Ty grows up, the Missy Skinner Koon Dessert Bar will be back in business. And that, cheesy pun intended, is indeed sweet news.

 

Editor's Note: Top and third photo shows Missy Skinner Koon, left, with her daughter Kenzie at Homecoming 2018 and Kenzie is with her date Evan Ogden in the third photo. The second and fourth photos are of some of the treats students have enjoyed for 14 years. Photos courtesy of Missy Skinner Koon.