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If you’ve ever been to Stockholm and debated which sour, foamy, cola-shaped or licorice-laden candy miracle to scoop into your bag, today’s news might hit you right in the nostalgia.
CandyKing, the Swedish pick-and-mix giant that practically invented the modern bulk-candy wall, is officially opening its first U.S. store and it’s landing in the West Village. The shop at 306 Bleecker Street opens on Saturday, December 6, giving New Yorkers their first true taste of Sweden’s pick-and-mix tradition without a passport or duty-free layover.
CandyKing was founded in 1984 and quickly turned European grocery stores and cinemas into candy playgrounds with technicolor walls and neatly sorted bins of sweet, sour, chewy and chocolatey classics. The brand has since become Europe’s leading pick-and-mix provider, with a cult following that spans airports, amusement parks and grocery chains.
The West Village outpost keeps all the spirit of the European originals intact. The centerpiece is a 27-foot-wide, six-foot-tall wall packed with what the brand says is the largest assortment of Swedish candy available in the U.S. Expect heavy hitters like Kexchoklad, Big Cola Bottles, Foam Mushroom, “Lakrifun,” Sockerbitar, Chocolate Roman Arches and a rotating cast of new hits pulled straight from Sweden’s current candy obsessions. One of the first limited-edition drops is the Swedish Zoo Monkey Foam, previously unavailable in the U.S. The store is also leaning into New York flair with exclusive art installations by AJ Lavilla and Michela Muserra, so even if you somehow resist filling a bag, you’re still stepping into something colorful enough to trigger a sugar rush.
CandyKing says the opening marks the beginning of a larger U.S. rollout and shoppers will eventually be able to influence what shows up in the bins. For now, West Village locals just gained a dangerously fun new spot for last-minute gifts or late-night sugar emergencies.