Take Me Out // Stock up On Sweets At The Candy Bar

Of all the people I have ever met in my life, I eat the most sweets by far. I love sugar, on everything and in everything, and I almost always have a cavity or two when I visit the dentist as a result. In my university years, I lived on a diet of Ben and Jerry’s (a pint a day) and Pop Tarts. Later I’d graduate to macarons and fancy truffles from the luxurious French cafe I worked at, stuffing my cheeks with chocolate dipped orange peels and chai drinking chocolate. Nowadays though, I try to make smarter decisions, and limit my sugar a bit more than before, but I’m still a huge sucker for sweets, especially when I visit The Candy Bar.

Toronto is filled with bakeries, cafes, and corner stores, but I’ve never been anywhere in this city quite like The Candy Bar. A bright, colourful shop located beside a tattoo shop on College Street, this small space is covered from wall to wall in candy and treats. Specialty chocolate bars from all over the world sit beside edible money and rare violet gum, and rows upon rows of bulk bins offer gummies and licorice you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere else. With a freezer full of ice cream sandwiches and locally made popsicles, a fridge brimming with fizzy sodas, and an entire corner of the store dedicated to British sweets, there’s truly something for everyone.

I stopped into The Candy Bar on a Tuesday afternoon, determined to stock up on some extra special sweets, and I left with a whole lot more than I had bargained for! My favourite part about this shop (other than the adorable decor and incredible window displays) is the variety. Bulk bins are labelled with gluten free and vegan symbols to help shoppers with special diets find what candy works for them, something that has always been an issue for me when shopping for treats as a vegan in the past. The owner is truly passionate about sugar (maybe even more than me), and shared enchanting stories about where each gummy I put into my little paper bag came from.

Determined to look as much like a piece of candy as possible, I picked the most bright, sugary pieces I could find at Bicyclette for my visit. I paired a geometric turquoise mini skirt with a textured white tank top that reminded me of jelly beans. I topped the look of with sprinkly socks, gold glittering Ban.do hair clips, and a necklace I can only describe as gumball glam. Accessorized with a peachy pink Ban.do party pouch, black booties, and a pair of pink polka dot sunglasses, I basically looked like a handful of gum drops.

I left The Candy Bar with two bags brimming with treats, and a “Hawaiian Punch” popsicle in my mouth, happily soaking up the sun alongside some cheerful balloons on the bench outside before I headed home. I felt as if I’d visited Toronto’s own Willy Wonka factory, a place where all my sour gummy dreams became reality. I can’t wait to see what new goodies are in store next time I visit!

‘Take Me Out’ is a new blog series collaboration between Toronto blogger Alyssa, of Random Acts of Pastel and Bicyclette, where she takes her favourite Bicyclette pieces on adventures throughout the city, and brings you along!

[photos: Johanna Martin]