Powell’s Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka’s factory.

The enormous selection of candy may be overwhelming at first. Luckily, most of it is organized by section. To the left of the store is a set of drawers devoted entirely to gum, and on the right, there is a shelf overflowing with mints in cute little boxes and shapes.

However, Powell’s has much more to offer. Retro lunch boxes, board games, pillows shaped like huge candy bars, and more fun items can be found around the store. If that is not enough, there is even a spot in the back reserved for watching movies, complete with a fridge brimming with soda pop, giant-sized candy bars, and actual movie seats.

“We play Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, but only the original one,” said sales associate Kelsie Skrace.

Nearly every type of candy imaginable can be found at Powell’s. Shelves of chocolate, buckets of saltwater taffy, and Jelly Belly dispensers line one half of the room. On the other side, a rack of lollipops of every size and flavor almost touches the ceiling. Next to the cash register are two glass displays encasing treats that are impossible to resist. One is filled with various chocolates and truffles, and the other with 24 different flavors of mouthwatering gelato. Depending on the size of the scoop, prices range from $2-$5.

“I walked in there, and headed straight for the gelato,” said junior Jesse Yung. “There’s so many flavors—everything from peppermint bark to raspberry sorbet and even tiramisu.”

All types of people come to Powell’s. After all, happiness does not have an age limit.

“You could be going to a candy store for the first time as a baby, or reliving your childhood memories as a grandparent,” said Skrace. “There is no age limit to this magical experience.”

However, this enthralling dream must come at a price.

“Last week I bought a single dark chocolate truffle from there,” said senior Kenny Cai. “They put it in a little fancy box and it was the best truffle I’ve ever tasted. I felt kind of bad eating it because it looked like a piece of art, and it cost me almost $2, but it was so worth it.”

address:
35 N Santa Cruz Avenue in Los Gatos