Economy Candy: A Historic NYC Sweet Shop's Halloween Tradition

Economy Candy: A Family Legacy

• 🍬 Economy Candy is a historic candy shop on New York's Lower East Side, in business since 1937.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The business has been family-owned and operated for three generations, with the current owner taking over about 10 years ago.
• 💬 Customers often share memories of buying candy from previous generations of the family, highlighting multi-generational customer loyalty.

From Shoe Repair to Sweet Success

• 💡 The shop originally started as a shoe and hat repair business with a candy pushcart.
• 📉 During the Great Depression, they pivoted to selling candy as a more accessible product, leading to the name "Economy Candy."

Halloween Specials and Sweet Offerings

• 🎃 For Halloween, Economy Candy offers a special deal: five pounds of candy for $20, a price held since before the pandemic.
• 🍫 The shop features a wide selection, including handmade chocolates, a vast wall of gummies, and all 49 flavors of Jelly Belly.
• 🌍 They also offer a wide array of imported candies and snacks from around the world, including Japanese Kit Kats and European chocolates.

Community and Generosity

• 🏆 Halloween is the busiest time of year for Economy Candy, referred to as their "Super Bowl."
• 🎁 Surprisingly, they give away more candy than they sell on Halloween day, distributing large bags to local children.
• 💪 The shop has survived major challenges like 9/11 and COVID-19, attributing its resilience to the joy candy brings and the support of New Yorkers.