SYLVAN LAKE — Brayden and Joshua St. Pierre could become the most envied kids in Central Alberta.
Their parents, Dan and Tina St. Pierre, operate Candy Kingdom and Friends — a Sylvan Lake store that specializes in sweets and other treats.
Brayden, who at 11 is three years older than brother Joshua, has even learned to operate the store’s till since it opened on May 1.
“I think he’s going to be one popular kid at school,” said Dan St. Pierre with a chuckle.
Candy Kingdom and Friends carries gourmet fudge, nostalgic chocolates, hand-made suckers and a variety of other confections.
“We have chocolate-covered chips and bark, and chocolate-dipped licorices, chocolate pizzas,” listed St. Pierre.
“We also have a sugar-free section.”
Young customers can mix their own “pucker powder” from an assortment of 12 flavoured crystals. Alternatively, they can apply their creative skills to something that won’t spoil their appetite — teddy bears.
Children can stuff and personalize their own bears, choosing from accessories like sunglasses, baseball caps, and clothing that ranges from princess dresses to hockey jerseys and cowboy gear.
Sound modules can also be added, said St. Pierre, with each bear issued a birth certificate and placed in a basket.
Candy Kingdom and Friends has a room set aside for teddy bear stuffing parties, with cakes and surprise bags available for attendees.
It also sells candy baskets, both pre-assembled and customized to customers’ tastes.
“There are no other stores like this, I believe, in Central Alberta,” said St. Pierre.
Located at 5037A 50th St., Candy Kingdom and Friends should draw attention from the crowds that descend on Sylvan Lake every summer, he said. But St. Pierre is confident the business will thrive throughout the year, attracting customers from across Central Alberta.
“We thought about having something fun and maybe bringing more people to the heart of Sylvan Lake — the downtown core,” he said.
“Everybody is saying that this is something Sylvan Lake needed for a while now.”
Candy Kingdom and Friends is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week. The store will extend its closing time to 9 p.m. during the summer, beginning May 21.
Its website can be found at candykingdomandfriends.com.
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com