Bright Businesses: Candy Kitchen

More than 50 years of memories lie within the walls of Candy Kitchen located on Madeira Beach. The original 600 square-foot building still remains, along with layers upon layers of customer signatures on ceiling fans, door frames, and walls.

With more than 500 varieties of candy, 200 nostalgic candies, and 60 nostalgic toys, Candy Kitchen is covered with kiddie treats from the past 100 years.

“Every square inch is filled with candy, toys, and soda bottles, including the wall space and counter tops,” said Brad Holybee, Candy Kitchen owner. “All we have left are the ceilings.”

Remember candy wax bottles, candy buttons, or candy cigarettes? Nostalgic candy and toys are purchased from more than 20 various distributers across the United States. It takes Holybee a few weeks to a year to track down the sentimental products. 

The 1884 Moxie soda beverage, 1890 Sen-Sen Confection breath mints, and 1924 Nehi soda bottle are the three oldest items Candy Kitchen carries; Hotlix brand Crick-ettes, Larvets and Scorpion Lollipops made with real bugs, are the most bizarre.

“Most people buy them for the shock factor, I don't know if they actually eat them,” Holybee said. “After being here for the past 16 years I have tried everything in the store, but I have no desire to eat bugs.”

Within a decade Candy Kitchen products have exploded, starting with 10 different PEZ candy dispensers to now a collection of 900. 

“We are the biggest little candy shop around,” Holybee said.

Candy Kitchen has three partner locations: the original on Madeira Beach, one that opened in 2009 on Redington Beach, and the most recent that opened on St. Pete Beach this past January.

“We will always keep this original location,” Holybee said. “We will open new locations but probably never expand the original building.

Over the past five years multiple property owners have attempted to tear down Candy Kitchen to build town homes and other property venues.

“We have certainly survived the times,” Holybee said.

Kurt Johnson is the original owner and creator of Candy Kitchen in 1950, within the past 46 years there have been numerous owners. The Holybee family was looking to buy a yogurt shop when they came across the candy store.

“It was over 40 years old at that time, and fairly run down,” Holybee said. “We brought it back to life.”

In 1996 the Holybee family bought Candy Kitchen. Brad and his wife, Laura, run the business, along with the warehouse and manufacturing plant in Largo. Over a dozen flavors of homemade fudge, italian ice, toffee, and ice cream are made at the plant.

“We use the best flavors and freshest ingredients to make all of our products,” Holybee said.

Candy Kitchen creates seasonal and new products - this spring, Sour Shots, a sour liquid candy, and this summer, a $4 dollar 5x2 inch Big Mouth Ice Cream Sandwich. The candy store is currently working on a secret recipe to create a peanut butter filled chocolate-dipped frozen banana.

The candy store sells T-shirts and mugs, along with decade boxes filled with nostalgic candy and toys from the 1950's, 1960's, and 1970's for $24.99. All items can also be purchased online. 

Candy Kitchen on Madeira Beach is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.