You don’t need a golden ticket to visit Lolli and Pops, one of Tulsa’s newest candy stores and the closest thing to Wonka’s factory I’ve seen.

With everything from grocery stores to gas stations displaying racks of candy, it can sometimes seem hard for a chocolate bar to be special. That will change the moment you walk up to Lolli and Pops, located near the food court and Macy’s at Woodland Hills Mall. I was lucky to get a tour of the store last week, opened in February, by owner Sid Gupta.

The shop offers more than 600 different types of gummy and sour candies, chocolates, and gumballs plus nostalgic candies and bottled sodas. You name it, they probably have it. If they don’t, they’ll order it for you. Gupta told me during our tour that his team evaluates around 10,000 types of candies available worldwide and selects 600-700 for the store.

 

 

He literally traveled around the world not only in search of unique candies from Belgium, Japan, Australia and Spain but also the unique décor of the store. Everything from the stain of the wood floors to the colorful Italian lighting fixtures were specifically chosen by Gupta to evoke a specific feeling of both nostalgia and wonder. The gold lettering of the store’s logo and hand-stenciled chalk display signs throughout the store (hand drawn by famous chalk artist Dana Tanamachi) add to the old world feel.

 

It’s the small touches that make this place special. At first glance, this large display in the middle of the store may look like just a stack of candies. However, this dark wood display cabinet is modeled after a late 1800’s apothecary seed cabinet. Lucky for us, its drawers are overflowing with the nostalgic candies we loved when we were younger.

The store’s design is wonderful but come on—you want the candy report! Three rooms spoke off the main nostalgia-themed room. The Wonka Room is brightly colored and houses all the fruit flavored hard candies, sours, and a floor-to ceiling display of Pez dispensers. Bulk candy is all weighed and priced by the pound.

 

 

 

The Gummy Room is just what you’d imagine. Fifteen flavors of gummy bears (try the sour apple!) plus dozens of fun shaped gummies in a rainbow of colors.

 

 

I could have spent all day in the Chocolate Room and was clearly distracted since I forgot to snap a photo. Chocolate covered fruit, nuts, nougats and creams—it’s hard to choose what to try first. Surprisingly, the candy that most stuck with me were these chocolate rocks. Though not much to look at, these crunchy nuggets were just like the crispies in the middle of a Crunch bar covered in creamy milk chocolate. I think they’d look cute at a construction themed birthday or worked into a gingerbread house display. Or in a bowl on my lap while I snacked and watched a movie.

The candy is the main star here but Lolli and Pops has a delicious display of truffles and cupcakes. Gluten free and sugar free items are available by request and sometimes special order.

Not only does this store have a much different feel than your normal mall store, it’s different than any store I’ve seen in Tulsa. It’s a destination. An experience. It would feel just as special for a children’s birthday party as it would a unique first date.

I plan to swing back in before my next girls’ night. Candy cocktail, anyone? I’m loving this candy cocktail party theme on A Beautiful Mess blog. These drinks would be just as pretty made with ginger ale or sparkling cider.

Photo via A Beautiful Mess

 

My trip to Lolli and Pops was inspiring and I find myself thinking up new ways to incorporate candy into my party décor. Help me out—what’s the most creative way you’ve used candy to brighten up a party or project?