Two teenagers were seated on a bench in Downtown Oak Park. One held up a strip of sugar-coated, rainbow-hued gummy candy while the other manipulated a gummy shark in front of it as if it was swimming through a colorful ocean.
“Look at us we’re making a scene,” said one of the teens with a laugh.
Obviously, the duo had been shopping at Candycopia — the welcoming Oak Park candy shop that is redefining teens making a scene.
Located in the historic Medical Arts building, Candycopia was brought to life by Oak Park residents, Patrick and Alycia Mason, along with their school aged daughters Addison and Campbell, earlier this summer. Candycopia eagerly welcomes all people into the large retail space boasting vintage vibes and a festive teal, violet and magenta color palate. The product of a patchwork of community members, local designers and contractors, the Masons are proud to say Candycopia is a “100% Oak Park effort.”
Built in shelving filled with retro candies like Abba Zaba bars, wax bottles, Necco Wafers, and Clove chewing gum beckons visitors to make their way deeper into the cheery shop. After customers feel those throwback vibes, Candycopia revels in its mission to highlight harder to find makers of small-batch caramels, marshmallows, toffee and chocolate. Their goal is to make lesser-known small batch producers, like Lily’s Chilies, XO Marshmallows and Dallas Caramel Company, household names in Oak Park.
A candy-focused ice cream menu elevates the in-store experience with employees offering sundaes topped with cotton candy, caramel corn and Pop Rocks among other sugary options. A bar boasting 100 gallon-sized apothecary jars filled with gummy candies sold by the pound is a delightfully fun addition to the shop.
Candycopia is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The shop is conveniently located across the hall from a dentist’s office.
Sweet dreams do come true!
Candycopia
717 Lake St. Oak Park
708-434-5251
candycopia.com
