Specialty candy retailer IT’SUGAR has opened up a pop-up candy department store in New York’s Times Square and its first Canadian store in Edmonton, Alberta.
The Times Square store occupies a 20,335-sq.-ft. space recently vacated by Modell’s Sporting Goods. This two-story location is IT’SUGAR’s second largest candy department store.
“Times Square is a major entertainment hub, and we are so excited to be a part of one of the world’s most visited tourist attractions,” said Jeff Rubin, founder and CEO of IT’SUGAR. “IT’SUGAR is known for creating an environment like no other — one that fosters the greatest feeling of happiness, allowing you to enjoy the treats you love without judgment. At IT’SUGAR, it is not only about taste, but also about delivering a unique experience, and our store in Times Square provides just that. We are having an exciting year of store openings, proving that America still loves candy.”
IT'SUGAR’s Times Square store will house a lollipop garden featuring more than 1,000 lollipops with the Statue of Liberty and a “Big Apple” made out of jelly beans. The store will highlight more than 35 candy licensed brands, with Sour Patch Kids, Oreo, Nerds, Starburst, Skittles, Reese’s, Toxic Waste, Pez and Tootsie showcased within branded departments. Candy stations offer hundreds of kinds of candy by the pound, with many exclusive flavors of Skittles, Sour Patch Kids and Pez, among others.
The experiential store also includes immersive areas devoted to retro and international candy, TikTok-trending treats, and more. America’s favorite candy brands are brought to life with shop-in-shops and giant branded characters throughout the store.
The company also opened its first store in Canada on the first floor of the West Edmonton Mall in Alberta.
The 5,000-sq.-foot store will feature a maple tree lollipop garden, along with a four-sided column made of gumballs, a gummy bear moose statue, and a tap with “maple syrup” pouring out.
“We are excited to expand outside of the U.S. with our first ever store in Canada, at the largest mall in North America,” Rubin said. “With the grandest assortment of confectionery treats and popular licensed merchandise, we are looking forward to bringing America’s favorite chocolate and candy treats to Canada. IT’SUGAR is more than a candy store, we are a ‘retailtainer.’ We created an environment where shopping for your favorite candy and treats becomes a joyful and memorable experience. Stepping foot into our stores is a humorous escape where shoppers will laugh out loud at our hilarious and entertaining products and displays, while satisfying their sweet tooth.”
The store offers over a dozen candy stations housing nearly 250 kinds of candy by the kilogram, with many exclusive flavors of Skittles, Sour Patch Kids, PEZ and more. Entire departments are dedicated to brands including Skittles, Nerds, Reese’s, OREO, Sour Patch Kids, and Pink Starburst, among others.
