Economy Candy is a Lower East Side mainstay, and with good reason.
While newcomers like Lil’ Sweet Treat and GLACE have gained viral attention and TikTok fame, the 1937 business is the one that paved the way for the sweets we see on our feeds.
Serving over 2,500 different types of confections from all around the world — Europe, Asia, Australia — the shop specializes in those nostalgic, hard-to-find pieces that you likely haven’t seen since you were a kiddo.
“People come in all the time, and they’re like ‘How do you still have this? They don’t make it anymore,'” says third-generation owner, Mitchell Cohen. “I take my dad’s joke and I say, ‘Hey: my grandfather was a bad buyer.”
Well, for that, we are certainly grateful.
A deep dive into Economy Candy
Back in the 30s, the shop originally catered to shoe and hat repairs, and only operated a small pushcart with candy. Upon the Great Depression, New Yorkers didn’t have much need for repairs, so Cohen family — Morris “Moishe” Cohen as the leader —pivoted to the sweet emporium it’s known as today. Chocolates, gummies, lollies — there’s truly something for all types of Willy Wonka enthusiasts.
At Economy Candy, you’re likely to have a moment of deja vu when coming across aisles with selections like Push Pops, Big League Chew, and Sour Ooze. And if there’s one thing we can’t resist, it’s a bit of nostalgia, and Cohen assures us that the shop “is your childhood.”
Even more than old-school sweets, the business has morphed into an international warehouse of sorts, where the entire back of the store is chock-full of imported goods: Violet Crumble, Japanese Skittles, all-things Nutella, and but of course, the UK’s Squashies, also known as Taylor Swift’s go-to sweets. Consider the store a peek into other countries sans passport.
Regardless of what type of sweets you’re in the market for, we guarantee you’re not likely to leave this spot empty-handed.
“When you walk in here, any problems you have, they go out the window,” Cohen insists. “And you’re just hit by a smell of sugar or chocolate, and you’re transported back to your childhood.”
Excuse us while we browse!
📍 108 Rivington St (Morris “Moishe” Cohen Way)
⏰ Open daily from 11am-6pm
— With reporting from Christine Covode