It's October, which means everyone's got big-time candy fever. We all want to be the neighborhood favorite of trick-or-treaters, so the search has begun for the best candy to give away. Or, if we're honest, we want the best store to buy in bulk and hoard it all for ourselves. Hey, no judgment here. The following are among the sweetest shops in L.A., offering gallons of jelly beans, custom-made chocolates, retro candies and more. So go ahead and stock your house—er, get ready for trick-or-treaters.
Navigating: mountains of candy
Follow the sugar scent to these temples of sweets
By Katherine Spiers
Special to MetromixSeptember 23, 2009
0 comments
| Add Your Own
Bombay Sweets & Snacks
18526 Pioneer Blvd. - Artesia562-402-7179
Vegetarians and sweets lovers rejoice at this tiny mini-mall Indian restaurant and bakery. Bollywood videos and flamboyant decor surround diners enjoying traditional Indian snacks, pastries and candies. Many people come by just to stock up on their favorite Indian treats to enjoy at home, whether they're in the mood for freshly made desserts or bags of candy. This is the perfect place if you need a sweet fix but crave something a little different.
The Candy Baron
312 Santa Monica Blvd. - Santa Monica310-458-6717
Essentially, all you need to know about this mini-chain is summed up with this point of pride: Pixy Stix. They've got 'em. They've got a lot of 'em. In a whole range of flavors, and only $5 for 50, all the better for your sugar-high pleasure. If one of your favorites is a flavor that never really took off, this might be the place to find it in bulk: U-No bars, Chick-o-Stix, Bit-o-Honey, fruit-flavored Tootsie Rolls…Yes, just walking into the store will give you cavities.
The Candy Factory
12508 Magnolia Blvd. - North Hollywood818-766-8220
The Candy Factory's name is slightly misleading: you'll want to come here strictly for chocolate. It's the proprietor's true passion. Satisfy your chocolate cravings in bulk from one of the bins, or buy the equipment needed for making your own at home. And if you've got time, chocolate creations can be custom-made for special celebrations. Or, you know, just in honor of Wednesday.
Edelweiss Chocolates
444 N. Canon Dr. - Beverly Hills310-275-0341
This Beverly Hills institution has been turning out chocolates since 1942 and remains a fully operational candy factory to this day. The chocolatiers even roast the nuts daily for their turtles and other chocolate-covered creations. There's also a sign claiming that the Edelweiss conveyor belt is what inspired Lucille Ball, a dedicated patron, to come up with the famous "I Love Lucy" episode in which Lucy and Ethel work the factory line at a candy company. This confectionery features a wide selection of chocolate-dipped fruit, as well as a large variety of sugar-free chocolates made with diabetics in mind. Stocking up for a generous party? Bags of candies like gummi Coke bottles and Sour Patch Kids are here too.
Galco's Soda Pop Stop
5702 York Blvd. - Los Angeles323-255-7115
Cult fans know the storied history of Galco's. It opened first as an Italian market in Downtown L.A. back in 1897, then settled in its current location as a deli in 1955. The deli's still there in the back, but the true one-of-a-kind experience is in the shelves upon shelves, bottles upon bottles of obscure, truly trivia-worthy "pops"—so old-time that most are made of honest-to-goodness sugar rather than high-fructose corn syrup. Even Coca-Cola comes in a bottle here. And as long as you're going into sugar shock, mosey on over to the candy counter and stock up on classics like Clark bars and Jujubes; the Hershey bars come in old-fashioned packaging to appeal to your retro side.
IT'SUGAR
1000 Universal Center Dr. #120 - Universal City818-824-4420
Amid Universal CityWalk's general hustle and bustle lies this emporium of candy. Just about any sweet you've ever or never heard of is available at this large store, where animatronic rapping bears take up any space not reserved for sugar. The bears are kind of a big deal, but we think the build-your-own candy bar, um, bar is more exciting.
Leonidas Hollywood
201 N. Larchmont Blvd. - Los Angeles323-860-7966
The Belgian chocolate with a Greek name has many devoted fans in Hollywood. The store sells dark, milk and white chocolate, either plain or filled with sweet cremes or praline. It's also a good place to get marzipan, if you're in the market for tiny almond-paste candies in fruit shapes. Boxes can be purchased in 1-pound or 2.2-pound sizes. And that's a lot of candy.
Little Flower Candy Co.
1422 W. Colorado Blvd. - Pasadena626-304-4800
This super-focused candy company used to hawk its wares strictly through other stores and restaurants, but the opening of a shop in Pasadena means candy aficionados have a place to go and revel in caramels and marshmallows. That's pretty much all the store sells, though each comes in many varieties. If you've never had salted caramels, try them immediately. And the marshmallows here are nothing like the Stay-Puft you're used to; try the vanilla and cinnamon varieties.
Littlejohn's Candies
6333 W. 3rd St. - Los Angeles323-936-5379
This little stand in the middle of the Farmers Market makes all kinds of scrumptious candies: candied apples, English toffee, different types of fudge. And we do mean "made": A number of treats are created right there in the stand, in a kitchen area walled with windows so you can see the process in action. The folks at Littlejohn's calls caramel "carmel," and they do good work with it. Try the Marshmallow Delights (homemade marshmallows enrobed in caramel) or the classic candied apples. Chocolate-dipped fruit is another good option (there are some rare choices like pineapples and figs), or just stick to the English toffee, which is just about the tastiest treat ever created. Regular candy isn't made in-house, but it is for sale: Swedish fish, Jordan almonds and the like can be purchased in bulk.
Munchies
8859 Pico Blvd. - Los Angeles310-777-0221
Munchies is the most well known, if not the only, kosher bulk-candy store in L.A. That's not to say every single item in the shop is certified (mainstream candies are available too), but most are. There's also a good selection of imported treats, from luxurious European chocolates to Israeli favorites, in bulk or regular packages. Sugar-free and gluten-free snacks are offered as well, and there's plenty of kosher wine in the back if you need something to wash it all down.
The Original Jelly Bean Factory
927 N. Hollywood Way - Burbank818-848-4806
This store takes great pleasure in announcing its status as the first place in SoCal to sell Jelly Bellies. The little brightly colored beans are still the specialty of the house, but they now share space with specialty M&Ms, gummis, holiday-themed candies of all stripes and all manner of Harry Potter-branded candy—which, if you remember, includes flavors like dirt and booger. Happy Halloween!
Popcornopolis
1000 Universal Center Dr. #188 - Universal City818-506-9333
Go nuts. Go absolutely nuts. Here, there's no shame in carting away Costco-sized boxes of Rocky Road bark, wheelbarrows full of candied apples or enormous tins full of popcorn. As the name suggests, popcorn takes up the most space here, in all manner of flavors (including churro!). But the sugared-up nuts and other indulgences aren't hard to miss. There are also about eight regular varieties of candied apples, in addition to a number of special Halloween editions, done in brown, orange, black and green.
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory - Culver City
294 Fox Hills - Culver City310-390-5025
If ever there were a place to go overboard on sugar consumption, this is it. The chocolate-dipped franchise serves up all manner of sugary goodness to people across the country. The decadent candied apples, usually rolled in candy and chocolate in addition to caramel, are the most well-known item. Fudge is made in the store, and there are boxes of chocolates available too. We've heard some people (not us, mind you) stop by for the free samples. And if that's merely an appetizer, mixes of chocolates and candies can be purchased at any size. Of course, if you want to go big, buy gift certificates for all your friends.
Ultimate Nut & Candy Company
6333 W. Third St. - Los Angeles323-938-1555
This shop is larger and more luxurious than neighboring Littlejohn's, but we think the two should have a taste-off. Ultimate Nut & Candy doesn't have a monopoly of toffee like Littlejohn's, but it's hard to beat for chocolate. Even the most luxurious truffles can be purchased in bulk here, but so can Mike & Ike's, Lemon Drops and others, in case you're feeling a little more downmarket.
Valerie Confections
3360 W. First St. - Los Angeles888-706-1408
Finally open to the public, Valerie Confections "creates gourmet toffees as gifts and for personal indulgence"—but really, we're only interested for our own selfish reasons. Signature toffees are flavored with organic hazelnut, crystallized ginger or dried mint, then dipped into Valrhona chocolate. Are toffee candies, truffles, tea cakes and petit fours really worth the demise of your healthy diet? Oh yes.
Zanzabelle
2912 Rowena Ave. - Los Angeles323-663-9900
This little shack of whimsy in one of Silverlake's quiet corners has sandwiches and other savories on the small menu, but the real draw is the desserts. Classic Fosselman's ice cream is scooped all day, and the racks of candy are a treasure-trove for sugar connoisseurs. Many of the brands here you haven't seen since your childhood, but Zanzabelle has an inside line on old-timey candy and less popular brands. If you're craving is Necco Wafers (weirdo), this is where you'll find them.
