The rudest woman that I have every met in my life. She was rude to my kids and me and this is a store that caters largely to kids - I will never go back. read more

Unique candy offerings. Wonderful to have in the neighborhood. Really nice owner.

This store is a great addition to the neighborhood. I love when you can tell that a store exists because the owner has a true passion about what they sell. She is a sweetheart and she makes each visit special. Just thinking about the sour watermelons makes my mouth water. read more

The owners may be the nicest people I have ever encountered! They are so helpful and have great suggestions. I had a few hostess gifts to give and everything I ended up buying was very well received! They have all the great candy from my childhood and so much more! I guess it is kinda a blessing that I no longer lived in the area...I may have a bigger weight problem than I already do :) read more

This is one very cool candy store, and, as far as I can tell, the first in the current trend of candy stores popping up all over the city. The owners are very cool, and, well, seem genuinely interested in candy. They have obscure British treats, as well as a wall of sweet stuff in glass jars. And, their boxes and wrapping are very good. I definitely recommend stopping in, and talking candy with these guys! read more

I love this store.The owners are so friendly and easy to talk to, I would live in there if I could. I come here whenever my boyfriend and I get a sweet tooth and buy a nice bag of treats which usually consist of gummies. I love trying their new stuff (free samples? omigosh) but I usually drift towards peach penguins, sour belts, sour watermelons, apple frogs, raspberries... yes I buy all these at once. Mmm I just got a craving for those gummy fried eggs. read more

This is another little shop for yuppies who don't know where to throw their money. The candy is down right exponentially overpriced and all you're paying for is the fact that you're buying from a place with a colorful assortment of candy filled jars on the shelves. They also don't carry any fine chocolate or anything high end. They are also somewhat rude and the fact that an obese woman sits behind the counter doesn't make you want to scarf down that much candy after you walk in. read more

Lovely service, free tasters, many different types of candy. I can't wait until they start to make their own! The candy here is a bit more expensive, but they have a collection that has stuff I've never seen anywhere else before. It's the only place that I know that sells grapefruit gummies and grapefruit infused caramel chocolate bars in the City! read more

This store is the bomb. Period. I don't get over there often as I live on Bernal Hill - but I do try to make a special effort. Diane is the best. From reading a lot of reviews on yelp I think quite a few people don't "get" her. That's really too bad. This store is merchandised in a compelling way - a sure sign of a great asthetic. Love that. The candy assortment is clearly specific and this store owner knows what she wants to sell and what she wants to present to the public. Love that too - because a shop owners' job is NOT to offer anything and everything to the public. It is THEIR shop. They pay the bills, work the long hours, and endure the slow times. Therefore they dictate what goes in the shop and what gets sold. Not the customer. I go to a shop like this (and to many others in SF) for precisely this reason - I want to experience another persons asthetic and what they think is the next big thing, or a new trend, or frankly just their own cool point of view. So all this crap on yelp slamming these business owners is pure shit PS. Because if you don't like the shop then just don't shop there. But to personally insult these shop owners and not support their local entreprenurship - I don't get that at all. Grow up and get some taste. Back to my review - The prices are on par for what they offer - cool stuff that can be hard to find/and get. That is someting you pay for. And so does the shop owner. If you want cheap candy then go to a cheap store that offers you a cheap experience. If you want cool stuff from someone with personality that can really steer you in a direction and show you new things then go here. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. No one ever seems to remember this. PS.There are Walmarts in CA - they sell candy...cheap. The Candy Store totally inspires me - everytime I go in. Way to go Diane! Can't wait til my next visit! read more

What a gem of a store! This beautiful little shop stocks Valomilk candy bars, lollipops that melt in your mouth, fair trade chocolates, luscious salt caramels, and so much more. The wife & husband team that run the store know and love their candy, and treat their customers like gold. Forget those other impersonal candy shops, and come and chat with owners who tune into their customers and take recommendations for their business. They may even stock a candy that you love and have been craving. Today I had a Zotter's banana-curry chocolate candy bar that was absolutely creamy and subtle in flavor. I plan on working my way through the rest of the Zotter collection. This place is great for nostalgic cravings (squirrel nut zippers, anyone?) or for candy so special that you can give it as a gift (for foodies like me!). If you love candy, I highly recommend The Candy Store (www.thecandystoresf.com). read more

I love candy! I always have and unfortunately always will. I completely forget how I found this tiny little gem, but the good news is that I found it. I have been there numerous times and each time they let me sample as many items as I want. I love to try new things, but I am a creature of habit and tend to walk out with the same 4 or 5 favorites. Sour stars, gummy trout and sour apple/sour cherry mix. The candy just tastes fresher than what I am used to and I love that! Nothing quite says heaven like sour candy and they have a great selection here. I like to buy giant bags of candy the day before movie night, but then I end up eating a bunch of it before I even get home. They have a lot of candy from the early 70's (that I am not familiar with b/c I am a child of the 80's) that will knock the socks off your t's!! The folks behind the counter are friendly, really cool and love to chat. Check it out folks. I think you are gonna love it! read more

This little candy store is just adorable and the staff that work here are very friendy and patient. My wedding is this Sunday and a few weeks ago I had come into the store to look at possible candy buffet options. I was so surprised they let me and the hubby try whatever we were interested in. Nearly everything here is good, especially the matcha green tea Carmel balls, the toffee crunch caramel ball, mint chocolate balls, champagne bubbles and many more. The prices are a bit higher per pound then you would pay online, however, the candy tastes fresh and with the cost of shipping most bulk candy, the costs almost even out, depending where you're buying from. Best of all, they have so many colors that would suit any wedding theme or palate. I highly recommend this place for your candy indulging needs! read more

I'll make this easy...$25 dollars for 2 small bags of candy??? ugggh am sure you can get candy of such quality and find more variety for much less....save your $$$ read more

I've been coming here for about 5 years now and I'm so happy they're still around. I love the gummy turtles. i love the Swedish marshmallows ($18/lb). They also give out samples too :) read more

I agree with Hollis: I am an addict and The Candy Store is my dealer. I love the vast assortment of gummie treats, hard to find nostalgic products (oh how I missed candy dots), candies I never knew existed but now love, and the wonderfully cheery and welcoming faces of Diane & Brian. This shop is a great contribution to the city and my life. Update: I went in today to re-up on my gummie stash and found out The Candy Store does special events too! They can make sure everyone at your next party is thoroughly hopped up on sugary goodness. I love this place! Also the caramel covered marshmallows are F-ing AMAZING! read more

I'd like to give this store 3.5 stars, but alas. I went in this store yesterday after seeing the article about them in the NYTimes. It was definitely beautiful. And the man behind the counter, while the other woman was very busy (and loud) with some other friends of hers who were customers, definitely was sweet to me and helped me out. The store is kind of small, so the fact that there were three customers who were friends, sort of taking up a lot of space and talking a lot, made it difficult for me to really shop how I wanted to. They were standing right in front of the main counter, and it's tough to see some of the labels on the candy jars high on the wall, so it was kind of awkward. Partially that's a problem due to the fact that the store is so small, but also that the people were oblivious to the fact that they were taking up the most precious real estate in the store and talking loudly. Oh well, that's the customers fault, I guess. Anyway, the man let me try a couple different things - the sea salt cashews and some sours - the sour bunnies and the cream-filled red sours. While some people might think they are good, I didn't think either one of them were sour enough for my tastes. I ended up with just getting the tutti frutti short (sour snagx) belts, a small scoop, for myself. I thought they were stale, because they were chewier than most gummy candies or belt sours that I've had. Diane (the owner) assured me that they are imported freshly from Holland and that European gummies are usually more chewy than the stuff we get here. I still think they taste stale and I wouldn't get them again. I also got the last roll of chocolate necco wafers, which were only $1.50. Not a bad deal. I bought my bf a bag of sea salt cashews, choc-covered orange peel, and choc-covered ginger, which are good, and also the chocolate is organic. Overall, I like the look of the store, but I wish that I could have better access to trying the candies out, or just to get a few of each one. It's just high maintenance to have to verbally describe to the people behind the counter how much of each candy you want scooped into a bag. I compare it to, say, Wonderful Foods, where it's a hands-off employee place. It's also cheaper - the gummies are around $1.75 a quarter pound, I think, which is less than the $10 or $12 a pound at the Candy Store. You can put two gummy penguins in your bag if you want to just have a few, and don't feel like you're holding up the whole place and being really annoying by only getting a few of a lot of things, instead of one scoop of just one thing. I wished at the Candy Store I could have gotten a few tinier scoops of some other candies, but the pressure of having other customers in there behind me, and the fact that I'd need to command the entire attention of the man behind the counter made it just seem cumbersome. If I were looking for a candy gift of some sort, I'd come back here - they have cute gifts along the wall, like a shaker filled with chocolate "olives", which would be cute for the big boozer friend's birthday. But in terms of browsing for by-the-pound candy, be ready to have a long, involved session with the owners. read more

definitely my favorite candy store in the city. huge variety of goodies, with tons of foreign and gummy stuff (my favorite). lots of stuff i'd never seen or heard of before, which was shocking b/c generally speaking, if it's gummy, i've eaten it. wish it were self-serve -- that's my only complaint. hate having to ask the cashier to scoop a billion kinds of candy for me (i usually want a big mix, with just a few pieces of each variety). planning to come here for a fix this weekend! read more

Agree with so many others...great service, great selection and delicious candy. Super cool stop prior to getting pedi done around the corner. Very liberal with samples and willing to make a bunch of smaller goody bags to sample various tastes. Sitting here with a delicious malt ball (or two or three or four....). read more

I saw an ad on a bus and being the candy lover I am, I stopped in to check it out. It was a lot smaller than I thought it would be and the prices were crazy high. And, the selection was just ok. Most of the sours and gummies are in jars, so I wasn't really sure how to pick anything out. Everything seemed more of a display than options. It is cute and ya gotta support your local candy store, but I won't go back expressly for a candy run. read more

The owners are fab. Super friendly & once you get Diane talking, she'll let you try just about everything (& give you some hints about what you might want to try). They have a good selection of retro & European candies. It's a tiny store but filled to the ceilings with every type of candy you can imagine. Definitely worth a visit! read more

This store carries a variety of gourmet treats, including chocolate, marzipan, and candy bars from other countries, but I love the selection of gummy candy the most. Some of my favorites are the Haribo grapefruits, wine gums, Swedish sour coins and gummy sour apples. Everything is displayed beautifully up front and sold by the pound. One of the best parts about coming here is talking to Liana, who is friendly and knowledgeable about everything in the store. She can give great advice if you tell her what you're looking for. She can also recommend new things to try and will gladly let you sample them in the store. A big fan! read more

Called and spoke with Diane and she made our client gift order smooth and easy. Thank you and we will order from her again!

For those of you who know me, you are aware that I enjoy the finer things in life. Beautiful furniture, fast cars, and candy. Not just your run of the mill Candy, but sweets with history and personality. If they come in beautiful packaging, then that is a bonus. I just came back from my 4th trip to The Candy Store, where I met the owner Diane. If candy stores can have a concierge service then she is it. What an incredible experience in happiness. Thank you for making my day better and for opening the best candy store I have ever visited. I highly recommend you all go, and when you do... Don't forget to bring me back some licorice! I have been back again a couple more times, rounding out my 6th visit. Always feel like, well... A kid in a candy store. It's an amazing space. read more

Friendly service and fun complimentary tastings! A great place for holiday treats!

I think it's a cute little place where you can find obsure candies that you haven't seen for a long time. When you see Starbucks, don't forget to turn towards Van Ness to check it out. The owner is nice too. read more

i stumbled upon this little yummy gem and fell in love not only with the Owner, and the candy but the decor was adorable..it made me feel like a kid in a candy shoppe.. peace. maria read more

Took the #45 Bus home which meant I had to make the trek up Polk Street from Union to California. On the way, I pass by The Candy Store. I walked in to check it out even though I'm not a candy eater. I was hoping to find some good sugar-free candy and as I walked into this sugar-laden paradise, I thought to myself, "Surely, they'll laugh at me if I ask for sugar-free candy." But, I mustered up the coverage and made my inquiry. Sure enough, the sales person (who was very exuberant) suggested some sugar free chocolate bars (not what I was looking for, but how could she know?) and then pointed to the highest shelf above the counter. There sat several glass containers with the words "Sugar Free". One of them was Sugar Free Black Licorice Scottie Dogs. Holla! Exactly what I wanted. 6.50 bucks got me a little over 1/2 lb. Delicious. And, sugar free. read more

Great old school candies and hard to find Euro chocolates. I'd give it 5 stars if the owner would sing the candy man song from Willy Wonka.

My profile states that you should read my reviews why? BECAUSE I'M THE AUTHORITY OF TASTE. And when it comes to sweets, I most definitely am. The Candy Store! Ah, what can I say, they have all kinds of sweets and a HUGE selection of goodies in such a cute store conveniently located right off of Polk St. and unfortunately, three blocks from my spot. =( For those that know me, they know I have the worst sweet tooth on the planet and therefore, trust when I say the Candy Store is the biggity biggity BOMB! read more

The service here is terrific. Wonderful friendliness, and free samples from a young female staffperson. She recommended nice gummi options. The rhubarb and lemon red licorice was solid. Tiny shoppe. Off of Polk St a ways. read more

I love the glass jar-filled wall of candy here. So much so that I'm only allowed to go here once a month or so, as I tend to walk out with enough sugar to put me into a coma for a week. Must tries: Happy Goat caramels, gummy pig tails, the myriad caramel + malt ball flavors, dark chocolate-covered pistachios, small batch chocolate bars, and the list goes on... and on. It's not cheap, but it's worth it for the hard-to-finds. And the prices keep my eyes from getting too much bigger than my stomach. read more

If you like candy then this is your place. Lots of imported goodies and plenty of selection to give you your sugar fix. I like chocolate and gummies so this place knocks it out the park for me. The lovely Leanne (sp?) suggested a bunch of different candies to try and I made sure to go home and polish them all off in one afternoon. Now I have to make sure I workout extra and brush my teeth more, but it's totally worth it. read more

The only thing I ever get here are the filled soft black licorice tubes. I can eat a whole bag. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable about their products. read more

This place is awesome, I go there every time I am in SF. Their gum drops are the best. Parking is tricky so sometimes I call in an order and they have it ready. read more

Candy, Shoes and Boys -- in that order. This place is a dream come true. The owners are so sweet and energetic also extremely knowledgeable about candy all types. They made several good suggestions and had great ideas about giving candy in place of flowers or wine at house warming parties or special occasions. What a lovely idea. I love the selection some many Delicious treats and if you are not sure the samples are plenty. This is a fun store in a great location. read more

With probably one of the biggest sweet tooths out there, how could I not love this place?? I'll admit, it's a little over priced, but I wouldn't say rediculously so. Plus, the service is so nice and is always happy to offer suggestions on what you might like that the extra $$ doesn't seem like a big deal. Their selection is great and they have all the old stuff that we all loved as kids :) Also, the fact that they serve the candy for you is so old fashioned and willy wonka-esque....how could anyone resist? read more

This place will bring back fond memories of when you were that kid in a candy store, captivated and overwhelmed by the oodles of candy, colors and sweet aromas. They did a nice job with merchandising, and it's really fun to look at all the candy in the jars and on the shelves. Colorful and inviting. Just like I remember the candy store back in the day... read more

5 stars for selection 3 stars for service... Cashier had quite an attitude. Some of this stuff can be found for les than half the price at cost plus world market. But some of it is unique and really cool and I've never seen anywhere else. read more

What a cute little candy store! I was mesmerized by all the rows and rows of glass jars filled with candy. They had everything ranging from candy from my childhood days to candy I've never heard of or tried. So today, I decided to go for the new. I hand selected the peanut butter malt balls, dark chocolate espresso beans, and dark chocolate covered almonds. I really liked the malt balls. When I want candy now, my number one pick is always chocolate covered something. When I was a kid, I use to always prefer anything gummy. So I also bought a couple of gummy raspberry drops that were coated with tiny sugar balls. Eating them reminds me of being in elementary school! If you're in the neighborhood, remember to stop by this store! read more

Great little store for a sugar rush. The walls are lined with glass canisters full of colorful treats. They also have goodies from other countries. Who knows, you might find a new favorite or your old favorite here. They can give you a sample of certain ones to try. They also have some locally made candies. Some may seem a bit pricey, but the variety of choices is terrific! The selection changes from time to time, so you never know what might pop up. Perfect for someone with a sweet tooth. Good thing I don't live nearby, otherwise, I'd probably stop by all the time. read more