You’re an adult now, and while you may not still be trick or treating (hopefully), it’s time to have a serious talk about candy. If you’re one to commit to cheat days, then it’s worth doing it right. If you’re going to cheat, then cheat well. With Halloween looming, it’s a fitting time to up our candy game, instead of waiting until Nov 1, to pillage the dollar stores for discounted leftovers.
If nothing else, these options will introduce you to a whole new world of snacking that is worth circling a few more days on your calendar.
*Cover image care of Karameller Candy Shop
Steveston Sweet Shoppe
What better way to cap a zenned-out stroll by the water than with a mouth full of Pop Rocks? Come crashing back down to Earth and speed towards its sugary core with all manner of extreme sweets on offer. Crack a can of extra sour Warheads watermelon soda, or light up your senses with a pack of Mad Science Mini Chews- if you’re ever feeling like you aren’t operating at the level of your fullest potential, a visit to this local will have you cartwheeling home.
12031 First Ave #120, Richmond
Karameller
Nobody does sweets like the Swedes, and this online Vancouver shop (they offer local pick up) is a must for confectionary connoisseurs. Specializing in candy from Sweden, you’ll be dazzled and jealous in equal measure that Canada didn’t get these treats sooner. With hundreds of bite-sized reasons to fill your goodie bag, and a healthy-(ish) selection of vegan snacks, you’re guaranteed a sweet, sugar-coated glow. Pro tip: If you’re stuck on what to try first, the Strawberry Rambo Crunches and Sour Watermelon Skulls are excellent.
Visit their online store: karameller.com
Granville Island Licorice Parlour
At the heart of Vancouver’s food scene, Granville Island has a solution for every craving. That’s why it isn’t surprising that a shop devoted entirely to licorice lives there. With a menu of over 100 types of licorice from around the world, you’ll be surprised how just one type of candy can fill an entire store. Not to be outdone though, the parlour has begun diversifying a bit by branching out into cotton candy! It’s a bold move in the licorice world, but we think we’re warming up to the combo.
1550 Anderson St, Granville Island
Sweet As Treats
If you’re struggling for an incentive to hike to Quarry Rock in Deep Cove, this being within walking distance definitely helps. What better way to reward yourself for all those calories you burned than with a visit to the saltwater taffy bar?
4330 Gallant Ave, North Vancouver
The Candy Room
If your weekly shopping list includes things like Big League Chew, Popeye Candy Sticks, or other treats you thought disappeared after the 80s and 90s, then The Candy Room is a one-stop shop. Each aisle is bursting with ways to satisfy your sweet tooth, whether you’re after that long-lost taste of childhood or just looking to try the newest flavour of KitKat. Disclaimer: This is the widest candy selection in Vancouver, so if you’re prone to sugar rushes, it’s best to pace yourself.
1218 Robson St
Beta 5 Chocolates
A bit of a splurge if you’re feeling especially decadent, Beta 5 elevates candy to the level of romanticism. With artful packaging and delicate chocolate design, you’ll think you were granted an audience with the honourable William Wonka himself. Award-winning chocolates, ice cream sandwiches, and housemade cream puffs brimming with velvety bliss; just typing this is shaking our willpower to its very core.
409 Industrial Ave, East Vancouver
Yum Sweet Shop
An old-school malt and candy shoppe, Yum is a sweet look into a more innocent time when sharing a banana split meant going steady. You half expect to see Archie and Veronica sharing a float at the counter (the comic ones, not the angsty/moody version). A meticulously curated candy supply is outdone only by gourmet soft-serve, and homemade cookies and whoopie pies. In an effort to infiltrate every meal with a little sweetness, Yum even is selling blissful cereals for the mornings when you just can’t. We can’t decide if that is ingenious or just devious.
4150 Main St
Snackland
While this corner store might not market itself as a leader of Vancouver candy culture, YVR dentists know it as a den of sin. No matter if you’re looking for artisanal root beer from Australia, or the ever-elusive Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper, there are more than a few wonderful ways to spoil your dinner. If you ever were hosting an evening of posh candy tasting, this would be your first stop. Finally, you can get to the bottom of what the differences are between Butterfinger, Crispy Crunch, and 5th Avenue Bar. Better stock up for further research.
3011 Main St
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