Economy Candy

"Founded in 1937, this quintessential Lower East Side institution was a wholesaler that turned into a retailer. Thousands of varieties of candy are offered, including many regional varieties (like Squirrel Nut Zippers and Mary Janes) and other types you may have thought long extinct (Bonomo’s Turkish Taffy, Nik-L-Nips). Every day, the sales floor crowds with tourists, the nostalgic, and candy lovers of all stripes. There’s an additional location in the Chelsea Market." - Robert Sietsema

"There's no doubt which shop comes first in our gummy-loving hearts—this one-of-a-kind institution should probably be named an official city landmark. As the oldest candy store in New York, Economy Candy has been filling dentist chairs on the Lower East Side since 1937. It’s not so much a shop as it is a depot, with an overwhelming section of imported goodies from Japan, Germany, England, and a few Scandinavian countries. They don’t have a bulk section, but they do have a vast variety of one pound bags (from around $5), and more chocolate bars than you can imagine (grab a Cannoli Bar with deep-fried shell fragments). Come with a kid, or before you throw your next party, and get lost in one of NYC’s most overstimulating stores." - molly fitzpatrick, will hartman, willa moore

"For imported candies from Germany, Japan, and the UK, baseball cards, Pez dispensers, gag gifts, and bulk jelly beans, there’s really only one place to go. And that’s Economy Candy—the city’s oldest candy shop—which has been filling dentist chairs on the Lower East Side since 1937. While they don’t have a bulk section with little plastic scoops and big tubs of candy, the selection here rivals that of Harry Potter’s Honeydukes (don’t miss the branded butterbeer-flavored candy). It's one of NYC's most overstimulating stores, and a great place to stock up before a party. Or come with children, give them a budget, and prepare to deal with the fallout of a sugar rush. It’ll be worth it. $15 gets you pretty far here, with one-pound bags starting at around $5 each. photo credit: Alex Staniloff photo credit: Alex Staniloff photo credit: Alex Staniloff" - Will Hartman

"Established in 1937, Economy Candy on Rivington Street is known as New York City’s oldest retail candy shop, and it’s no run-of-the-mill store but a child’s wildest dream come true. Originally a shoe and hat repair business called Economy Shoes (or King’s Shoes) located half a block away, the shop started selling candy in a pushcart outside at the request of the owner’s little niece. Soon it fully developed into a candy shop, which proved to be a better business in the later days of the Great Depression. Economy Candy stocks all kinds of candy, nuts, and dried fruits from floor to ceiling. As a matter of course, its inventory includes regular American brands like M&M’s and Snickers, as well as imported international candies of various flavors, such as Puchao, Droste chocolate, and Leone pastilles, and even authentic halvah and Turkish delights. There are also retro candy brands seldom seen elsewhere these days, from Cracker Jack to Christopher’s Big Cherry, Reed’s Candy to Sugar Babies. Much of the stock is organized by color, and it’s not only Jelly Belly. Candy of every hue and shade imaginable paints the shelves in a vibrant rainbow, both vivid and pastel. In addition to these, you can also find a wide array of novelty miscellanea, including Pez dispensers, tin boxes, practical joke toys, and vintage trading cards. Today, Economy Candy remains a popular family-owned business run by the founder’s grandson, Mitchell Cohen, and his wife, Skye Greenfield Cohen. Though it is not as well-known worldwide, it’s visited by many locals and tourists alike every day, especially New Yorkers seeking childhood nostalgia. Know Before You Go The shop is open daily from noon to 5:30pm." - shotsbycarrielou, Fred Cherrygarden, linkogecko, Mitch Lang

"If you long to feel like the proverbial kid in a candy store, Economy is your place. All sorts of candy are available in individual packages or in bulk, and for a healthier snack, there are top-quality dried fruits, too. The place prides itself in a candy selection that includes many that you might have thought were no longer being manufactured — Turkish taffy, Mary Janes, and Squirrel Nut Zippers, for example." - Robert Sietsema