Gigi the owner is absolutely a delight. She remembers her customers, gets to know them and their stories. The selection is out of the park. Between salt water taffy bar, the wide variety of candy bars from every Reese's debut to rocky road and the chocolate spuds. Candy chapstick, Pez & pop rocks, European candy and flavored sodas! Highly recommend everything about this place!!!! Show her some love! read more

Purple Penguin Candy Emporium - Candy Stores Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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What a charming store full of all your favorites sweets, no matter your age. The young and Young-at-Heart will find something (probably too many somethings) to bring back memories, and to make new memories with. Pretty much any and every candy, chocolate and taffy you can imagine is tucked away in here amongst the fun displaying like lamps made from classic toys, old pay-phones and a coin operated movie view finder from the early 20th century. We had to walk through twice as suggested by the thoughtful and knowledgeable staff, but I still feel like we only screatched the surface of what this emporium has to offer. Can't wait to dive into our candy haul, like Scrooge McDuck dives into his vault of treasures! read more

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I had no idea this little candy store would take me on such an amazing trip down memory lane. Let me begin by saying, this little store in a small strip mall may look like nothing....BUT...it is WORTH THE TRIP!!! I was transported back to the late 60's and 70's! Rotary dial phones, pay phones that take a dime for a call, Pixie Stix, Razzles and so much more as far as candies! Sodas that were made the REAL way....with pure cane sugar instead of the cheaper high fructose corn syrup. Does anyone remember those little wax coke shaped bottles with liquid inside. Yep, they have those. Cinnamon toothpicks....YEP. I honestly could have spent two hours in this store....at least!. I found a Curious George Jack in the box. Special meaning for me as I love Curious George. I will return to visit......Just....visit!! The staff are super nice! read more

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Our family love this old fashioned candy store. We do miss the older man who owned the store and was so good to the kids. He is no longer there. read more

This candy shop located on 22nd street across from the Reid park is AMAZING! They have candy I haven't seen since I was a little kid and candy that I thought was lost forever. Pop rocks, saltwater taffy, Clark bars, candy cigarettes, cinnamon toothpicks, the list goes on and on. The. There is the selection of sodas. Good lord I found grape Ne-hi. Young or old this candy store will make memories or bring them back. A definite stop in. Happy sugar rush all! read more

Come with me and you'll be in a world of pure imagination....What an absolute joy to be greeted with music from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as we entered the store! The owner was doing his thing entertaining his customers and the children in the store. And those kids were happy and excited as he gave them all a few piece of candy. There is so much to see at Purple Penguin so take your time and explore. We walked out with some of my favorite childhood candies. I'm looking at my Chick-O-Stick, Abba-Zaba and Big Cherry as I write! Candy cigarettes? Yep. Cinnamon toothpicks? Yep. Any flavor of tasty you could imagine? Yep. The owner even broke out a favorite candy bar of his (Goldenberg Peanut Chew) and shared it with those of us in the store. What a treat this store is! read more

Gigi's place is awesome all sorts of different candies great atmosphere great nostalgia and very helpful. She's trying to open up more hours for the community but I think everyone should go there or plan some event or have a little outting with your children. I absolutely love this place and love Gigi's kindness and creativity.. Arianna read more

What a gem! So much fun candy to choose from. The owner is generous and kind. I can't say enough good things about this little shop. The prices are actually affordable; you don't feel ripped off and it's a joy to let your kids choose freely. It's very clear that Purple Penguin is a labor of love. We will be back! read more

Ok I didn't know this place existed! We thought it was like more a thrift store because of all the fun things as props! It was an old school candy shop! I ended up with sour gum and wax lips. Hank had to get his Cracker Jacks! I'll definitely be back when my sweet tooth kicks in & I'm wanting good ole jawbreaker or my Cry Baby sour gum! read more

Best candy store in the state! The owner is so sweet and always makes you feel welcome. So many candy options you can't find in any other stores. It's like walking into a candy store run by Willy Wonka. We have moved out of state and I am so sad to leave this wonderful place behind. read more

From the moment you park to when you depart, your senses are in for a treat. There are so many things to see! There is so much candy! There are so many vintage drinks! This establishment is a Mecca of awesomeness for all ages. Giant stuffed animals, figurines, vintage containers, and food stuffs are everywhere throughout the store. And salty water taffy choices (a new weakness in my life) - there are so many!!! And this is fresh taffy - not the dried out and crumbly stuff you get if you order online. And the candy bars! Wow - there are so many!!!! Giant gummy bears? Yep, that's covered too. And what candy store wouldn't be complete without an FAO Schwartz step piano - that happy device is in the back of the store to give you plenty of room to try out the keys. The owner is just the jolliest character. He tried to help us in the age bracket of some of the candy (we were buying a candy windfall for my father in law). I never really thought about candy being regional, but that is definitely a thing. We left with a bunch of choices, and it was just fun to shop. So, be the veritable kid in a candy store, and browse and buy to your heart's content while satisfying your sweet tooth - you will have a fun time. read more

Purple Penguin Candy Emporium - Candy!!!!! - Candy Stores Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

This place is so quirky and great. The Owner (pretty sure his name is Dino) used to be in the art of antique collecting and has since moved on to CANDY! This place is amazing and has global varieties of candy, taffy, soda, Pez and toys. His store is covered in an array of vintage items such as an early 1900s candy crane machine and one of those giant pianos that make sound when you step on them. The owner who is always there is very knowledgeable and can instantly help with any needs. He is generous to kids of all ages. He is supports local businesses highlighting some Tucson native local candy businesses. I highly recommend either before a movie or just to brighten your day! read more

Purple Penguin Candy Emporium - Taffy - Candy Stores Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Larger selection than I was expecting. Oldies/classics among some newer stuff. Friendly staff. Cheaper than I was expecting as well. The only small downside is it's a rather small building and everything is very packed together so if there are more than a handful of people then it may be hard to menouver through the place. Not a big enough deal to knock a star. When I went with my parents and another small group of like 4-5 people showed up it was still fine. read more

This little place draws your attention from off the road! We saw it driving by & knew we had to stop. The minute you step in, you are warmly welcomed by the friendly and knowledgeable owner. This place is like a time capsule as it has a variety of cool antiques and so many variations of candies and drinks, new and old! It's a very cool concept to have in town and you don't see something like this place often if ever. We ended up getting a few different sodas, cotton candy, small treats and loaded up on delicious salt water taffy. It's a fun place for families and kids or anyone who loves candy! We can't wait to return! read more

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What a fun and funny trip down memory lane. All of the old-timey candies you remember are there (but fresh!) Plus some new and "themed" treats. Dino, the owner, is a walking history book about candy, and peppers his knowledge with humor and warmth. The store also features childlike collectables...don't be surprised when you walk across the floor piano from "Big" or when Yoda speaks to you. A must visit for your sweet tooth or if you have out-of-town guests. I'd write more but I'm going to go eat my Goo-Goo Cluster and Mallo Cups! read more

went here while visiting the area and it was a cute little shop. the owner was there and was so kind and helpful. they have so many unique candies and sodas available read more

So much good candy here! They also have really good taffy and tasty sodas here. Not a lot of places carry unique sodas like Butterbeer, Bubble up, espresso soda, birch beer, etc etc. and the taffy is wonderful. They practically melt in your mouth. The owner is really nice and always has been when my wife and I pop in for our taffy. Check it out if you can. read more

customer service is above and beyond i would give more than five stars if possible!! i can not recommend this shop enough, they were so helpful in finding the candy i came for as well as saying they'd try getting others in for me! prices were super fair i was honestly expecting to pay more and was pleasantly surprised. they have super fun/weird candy. overall a must stop while in tucson read more

We were shopping at another business in the strip mall shared with Purple Penguin and curiosity drew us into this intriguing little candy store. Not surprisingly it is chock full of a mind boggling array of candies, including hard to find varieties from your childhood. But the real high point was the gentleman owner who welcomed us with great enthusiasm. He even gave us a tour of the old timey store, pointing out his well curated collection of curios and other points of interest. Very entertaining, especially for kids. Right across from the south entrance of Reid Park so a perfect combo destination for a fun family outing. Check it out! PS. the only thig I didn't like was the celery flavored soda-bleh read more

It was my daughter's birthday and we were shopping for her. A few minutes later we heard Happy Birthday playing for her!! It was so sweet! We enjoyed finding her favorite candies!! Positive that it made her day!!! read more

Woww!! What a wonderful place to stop in & check out the great variety of both nostalgic and current candies.... The customer service is "old school" style where you get much more good quality assistance with genuine smiles. We've been wanting to come in here for a long time and we're sooo glad we finally stopped in. read more

Purple Penguin Candy Emporium - a teddy bear on a ladder - Candy Stores Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

We visited Purple Penguin Candy Emporium this afternoon after enjoying lunch on 22nd street! We were greeted by a wonderful man that let our girls spin the wheel to win a free piece of candy! They loved it!! He asked their favorite treat amd walked them over to the taffy table to point out a few suggested flavors. He had a great selection of specialty soda flavors like snazzberrys and butterbeer, cold or room temp!! Lots of old fashioned candy, suckers, and lots of unique flavors! I highly recommend a visit for kids and adults!! read more

Purple Penguin Candy Emporium - a group of people posing in front of a store - Candy Stores Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

I love this place! I tell all my friends about it. The owner is so great to talk too and has created a magical shop. So many candy options to pick from. If you are looking for hard to find candy, check this place out. They will probably have it. I have already gone back a few times. read more

I've been coming here since it opened and I've never been disappointed. The owner is friendly and knowledgeable about candy. The nostalgia is running wild in The Purple Penguin Emporium. Considering the extensive variety the prices are actually pretty reasonable. They now stock probably 50 different sodas as well. read more

This is a really wonderful little shop if you are looking for something unique and fun. The owner really knows his stuff when it comes candy and confections native to each state and region. In addition to candy, the owner has decorated the shop with beautiful and interesting antiques (some for sale), and there are fun little games for kids! read more

Purple Penguin Candy Emporium - Candy! - Candy Stores Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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We visited this afternoon and it was an awesome experience. My daughter's got to spin the wheel and won free candy! Lots of fun and unique candies, and sodas to choose from. The owner even let's you taste test the many different types of taffy they have. We'll definitely be going back. read more

This store is such a great treat and the owner is so fun and helpful. They have little bit of everything from nostalgic candies, a large selection of salt water taffy including some flavors you don't usually see like maple bacon, pineapple, and chocolate chip cookie dough, fruit slices, caramels, and plenty of gum. They also have a bunch of fun and classic sodas to try. This store is such a treasure and worth the trip. read more

This is the best candy emporium! Dino is wonderful and makes the experience fun & inviting. My nephew and I had a blast selecting from the incredible selection of new and classic favorites. This is a must-visit! read more

This place is a hidden gem in Tucson. If you have kids or you are a kid at heart it is absolutely a must see. You will be very surprised.

Charming place and incredibly friendly and helpful owner. Great selection of candy. They had stuff I hadn't seen since I was a kid! And a great selection of sodas as well. We'll worthy the visit! read more

Cool place! Lotsa of retro candy and cool antiques. Candy I thought was no longer made. Mars Bars, Chuckles, Black Cows, Wax Lips, Bit-O-Honey, rock candy, and tons of others. Fun, friendly and reasonable! read more

Purple Penguin Candy Emporium - Loot! - Candy Stores Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

They have all the candies I used to enjoy as a kid in the 60's. A very old style candy store with old memories at every counter. They even have the old bottled sodas. Wax lips what we called candy cigarettes now called bubblegum sticks due to non promotion of cigarettes. Pop rocks Lemon drops rock candy on a stick etc etc etc. read more

They've got all sorts of candy. If you like candy, this is the place for you. It's right across from the zoo and fairly easy to park in the parking lot. The man working there was very friendly and welcoming. If you're looking for some candy from your youth or even looking to try something beyond the standard candy you'll find at the grocery stores this place is definitely worth a visit. read more

Walking in to this store is like walking in to Willy Wonka's factory. Every candy you can imagine is there - even the snozzberry! The gentleman there is so knowledgeable and energetic and the experience was made as soon as he greeted us upon entering. I would recommend this place highly. My son rates it a "totally amazing!" read more

This candy shop is so much fun! There are hundreds of candies! There are some newer candies, older candies, ones that I'm not even familiar with. There are also gag toys! Just by standing outside of the store, you know inside will be a blast! The employees are also so friendly and fun. I'd recommend going even if you don't intend on buying anything. read more

I heard about this place when it opened and I took my sons with me. As soon as you walk in the door you can tell you're in for a treat. Their selection of candy is incredible including some brands I thought weren't around anymore. The owner is really knowledgeable and friendly and anxious to help introduce you to new treats. And they have fart bombs! read more

Nicest owner !!!! Best candy store in Tucson !! You want your kids to come there... old school candies and it takes you memory lane ..

This place opened within the past few weeks -- around New Year's 2019. When I was there, I didn't think to take photos. Today I snapped one through the front window while they were closed. Maybe I can add more later; this is a fun place! Besides lots of candy, they have other old-fashioned things -- including an electric train that runs around tracks above some displays. It's just across 22nd from Reid Park, which means it's a short walk from the Reid Park Zoo. (It's in the little strip mall next to McDonalds). read more

Purple Penguin Candy Emporium - Looking in from the front door (I was there after business hours) - Candy Stores Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

It is great. They got a huge selection of both candies and soda's. Good service to. Not badly priced actually.

So cool!i has so much fun in here with my kids. The owner is so much fun and interactive with the kids. It was an experience I know they won't forget. So much Candy that brought me back to being a kid with my grandparents. read more