One-of-a-kind candy shop comes to Lethbridge

On November 1, 2007 Lethbridge welcomed its very own candy shop filled with old fashioned candy, British and American candy, Candy Bouquets and novelty candy to suit everyone's taste. It is a family business owned by cousins Antonia Lofgren and Penny Kowalchuk.

"We've been well received by the community," said Penny. "In the months leading up to the opening, we asked people what candy they had when they were kids that they couldn't find anymore. We took great pleasure in finding it for them. Most of what you see in the shop is what the people of Lethbridge requested."

If one can not find that tasty sweet or sour candy they loved as a child, a whiteboard in the back of the colourful shop is dedicated to the candy connoisseurs searching for their long-lost candy.

Remember chicken bones, mojos, cola balls, sponge toffee, pink elephant popcorn, cotton candy and black licorice cigars? How about those American and British candy bars like Payday, Zero, U-No, Double Decker, Turkish Delight and Wigwags (now Curly Wurlies)? You can find them all at Sweet Ideas!

If chocolate is your passion, there are the most amazing Ganache truffles you've ever tasted, in flavors like peanut butter, caramel mocha, Italian hazelnut, double dark, butter white, hot 'n' spicy, raspberry, English mint, Swiss milk and French orange (all made in Canada). They also carry Chocolate Moose Fudge and Linda Marie's Gourmet (chocolate covered) Toffee, which are products of Saskatchewan.

Most recently, fear factor candy has been added, bringing "Cricket Lick-It" suckers and Real Farm Ants to the discerning palates of Lethbridge children and adults alike.

Making this a store of experience and childhood memories was very important to Sweet Ideas. "We wanted a business where people left feeling better than when they came in," said Penny. "It brings us a happy feeling when people come in and share their candy stories with their kids," added Antonia.

To give kids the old fashioned candy store experience, GST is included in all prices. Kids can come to Sweet Ideas with their pocket change and figure out for themselves exactly how much their money can buy.

Another endeavour the sugary team has embarked on is the Candy Bouquet franchise (#5615) to provide a delicious alternative to flowers for every occasion. When asked about the favourite Candy Bouquet, Antonia responded, "People love coffee bouquets filled with coffee flavoured candies and such, built in a coffee mug."

The ladies also take special orders. Whether it is an Oilers paraphernalia bouquet, a Spiderman birthday bouquet, or a Betty Boop mug bouquet, the sky is the limit when it comes to designing Candy Bouquets. You can choose whatever candy you want, whatever color scheme and whatever theme you need to suit that hard-to-buy-for person on your list.

Sweet Ideas felt it was important to take advantage of the local talent when putting the business together, and to that end, they enlisted the help of Kelly Vander Hooft of Urban Studio Interior Design and Colleen Reid of LA Neon.

Colleen, a gifted graphic artist, created Lulapop, a lime green, scarf-wearing sucker girl, as the mascot for Sweet Ideas and prepared all artwork for the signage, business cards and logo. The Andy-Warhol inspired artwork on one window was her creation too.

Kelly, a talented professional, designed the entire shop, complete with the '50's-style floor, chrome accents and many creative candy art pieces. Her inspiration for the shop colors were Jelly Belly jelly beans, and the comment heard most when people walk in the door for the first time is, "Wow! This is just like Willy Wonka's!" You'll appreciate Kelly's unique artwork, displays and other features when you visit Sweet Ideas.