That Candy Store satisfies the sweet tooth of nostalgia

Name that iconic type of candy that sends you back to childhood: Charleston Chews, 5th Avenue bars or the Candy House Candy Buttons. 

They might not be stocked in the candy aisle of Meijer or Walmart, but Lansing residents can still find their childhood favorites, right in the heart of Old Town.

Step inside That Candy Store, located at 1232 Turner St., and the nostalgia of youth comes flooding back. Shelves are stocked with long-lost classics, like candy cigarettes and Mallo Cups.

Owner Jim Coyer wants to help customers reconnect with childhood moments. “People can come in and find a few minutes of happiness,” he said. “Happy treats and sweet memories kind of go hand in hand.”

The idea came from the neighborhood candy store where he grew up shopping. “I remember the feeling of walking in the door,” he said, “you know, my eyes got all big.” Coyer specifically added sugar candy sticks, inspired by the field trips he took as a kid to Frakenmuth, which he described as some of his fondest childhood memories.

The store’s stock is not only a collection of Coyer’s personal favorites. Customers’ suggestions help shape the inventory, with visitors often requesting candies they remember from childhood. Some products are discontinued, but others stir Coyer to research and track down new additions.

“Every time you come in here, there’s something new,” he said.

Unlike other stores in the area that satisfy a sweet tooth, Coyer designed the store’s inventory to inspire nostalgia. “I hear a lot of stories every day from people who come in and say, ‘Oh, I haven’t seen this since I was a kid’,” he said.

The store also features Michigan-made products, including Mackinac fudge and Towne Club Soda. Coyer hopes to incorporate more treats from Michigan companies, like Hannah Chocolates in St. Johns and Cherry Republic in Traverse City. Although they are a priority, Coyer acknowledged the state’s candy manufacturing industry limits how much of the store’s inventory can be sourced locally.

Coyer sells an impressive assortment of 21 saltwater taffy flavors. He said the inventory is always changing, but the pickle and rocketpop flavors are bestsellers. “You can find saltwater taffy at most candy places, just not like this.”

In the store’s second room are more products, sure to unearth buried memories. Coyer stocks the timeless Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots and Barrel of Monkeys tabletop games, along with scratch-and-sniff stickers. “I’m trying to find things that can bring back those memories and those feelings of happiness,” Coyer said. 

Ultimately, Coyer hopes That Candy Store becomes a local staple where customers can escape their daily routines and reconnect with fond memories. “It is your neighborhood candy store where you can come in and immerse yourself in sweet memories for a little while.”