Sticky’s Candy Hastings Street, Vancouver

What if you were to take the saying “like a kid in a candy store” in a completely literal way? You’d end up at a shop like Sticky’s Candy, the newest location of which just opened up at 3609 East Hastings Street in Vancouver, a few doors down from Just Waffles and across the street from Tazmanian Comics. Those looking to satisfy their sweet tooth cravings may have found a new home.

I know. Dentists probably hate places like this, but we can all stand to indulge ourselves every now and then. Even though the store itself is somewhat modest in size, they’ve managed to pack a surprising amount of variety in here. Naturally, it’s all sweet.

Likely the most common purchase at Sticky’s Candy is the bulk candy. You get your usual assortment of sour soothers and gummies, but they’ve also included some rather unique items like various flavors of rock candy. And even when the flavor of the candy is pretty mainstream, they’ve got some that take on some interesting shapes. Forget about the cola bottles and pick up a giant beaver instead.

Beyond the bulk candy section, you’ll find the opportunity to buy an impressive range of Jelly Belly jelly beans in bulk, as well as premium bulk candies from the UK and beyond. Speaking of the UK, they also import candy bars from our British friends too, as well as American chocolate bars.

And yes, for the even bolder among us, Sticky’s Candy ventures into the realm of edible insects too. You can get lollipops with crickets in them, tequila worms in suckers, and flavored larvae in snack packs. They may be a gimmick (okay, they’re definitely a gimmick), but this lets you step outside the usual zone of high fructose corn syrup into a realm of bugs coated in high fructose corn syrup.

I was told that one of the more popular draws was the impressive variety of root beers. These root beers come from all over the place and they’re refrigerated for immediate consumption. You wouldn’t expect anything less from an instant gratification establishment.

Beyond the candy (there’s so much candy), those of you who are into nostalgia or pop culture will also enjoy the fun range of actual products on sale too. Want a retro-looking Coca-Cola sign for the man cave? How about a SpongeBob SquarePants lunch box for your minion? A coin bank shaped like your favorite Avenger or Ninja Turtle? How about a Star Wars Pez dispenser with Yoda or R2-D2?

Visiting the candy aisle at your local supermarket can only get you so far. In a city like Vancouver that is always on the hunt for the next culinary adventure or the next unique taste, Sticky’s Candy on Hastings is a fun and humble destination to get your sugar rush.

Walking around the store can be overwhelming, due to the sheer range of product, so take your time. Oh and they have Island Farms ice cream too, as if all of this weren’t already enough.