That’s the life of Doug Alpern, proprietor of Village Candy in the upscale borough of Sewickley.
But you would never guess he is surrounded by rich chocolate – most notably that manufactured by Asher’s and Lillie Belle Farms – and other guilty pleasures by glimpsing his waistline, and there’s a very good reason for that.
“I’m not a huge candy eater,” Alpern said.
Fortunately, there are those who are, and they would be hard-pressed not to find something at Village Candy to satisfy even the most discriminating sweet tooth.
“When my sister comes up from D.C., it’s like a buffet for her,” Alpern chuckled.
There are wax lips, mustaches and bottles, candy cigarettes, Pixie Stix, Necco Wafers, Neapolitan Coconut Sundaes, Red Hot Dollars, candy buttons and marshmallow cones, just to name a few.
“Most of the things I remember have been around or are coming back,” said Alpern, 52, before reciting a litany of candies, such as Turkish Taffy, Black Cow and Sugar Daddy. “Some companies are really on the ball. Most of them have hung around.”
Alpern landed in Sewickley via California and New York in the mid-2000s. He liked everything about the residential Pittsburgh suburb, except the fact it didn't have a neighborhood candy store.
So, Alpern purchased the former flower shop at 344 Beaver St., and in April, Village Candy celebrated its fifth anniversary.
“It's a fun business. It’s not an essential thing, but it makes people happy,” Alpern said.
Village Candy carries a variety of regional favorites as well. There is the Clark Bar, which, of course, is a staple of the Clark Co. in Pittsburgh, and the Mallo Cup, manufactured by Boyer Candies in Altoona. It also has the Idaho Spud, which was introduced by Idaho Candy Co. in Boise.
Hands-on “candy-making” attractions at Village Candy include Pucker Powder candy art, which is similar to Pixie Stix, and visitors can bag their own jelly beans and M&Ms, choosing to mix and match colors or go monochromatic.
Or, they can select from an array of candy bins that contain a variety of treats, like peach rings, Nerds, Mary Janes, Banana Splits and Pez.
Alpern understands, too, that kids today have different tastes – he has a young son to thank for that – so, the candy inventory includes many things gummy – lunch bags, bears, jet fighters and Army guys – and buggy – Bug Bite Kabobs and Scorpion Suckers, plus chocolate-dipped insects: Larvets, Crick-ettes and ants.
And there are even lightning bugs, which actually light up!
“Kids nowadays don’t like candy bars,” said Alpern, opting, instead, for gummy or sour candy.
Of course, Village Candy also showcases a healthy selection of candy accessories, including gumball machines, giant Pez dispensers, candy-scented lip balm and candy bar earrings and pillows.
In addition, Alpern has filled the former glass-encased “refrigerator” along the back wall with an array of bottled sodas. Among the offerings are Nehi, Orange Crush (one of Village Candy’s best sellers), Saranac Shirley Temple, Big Red and Sopranos Chianti Soda.
Jack Black’s Dead Red Root Beer is among 35 varieties of root beer Alpern stocks.
Some of the offerings are featured in Village Candy’s family-friendly events. Among the most recent was a cola tasting.
