Something Sweet on 42nd St.

Take a stroll down candy lane.

In the 21st century, society is all caught up in the here and now. A new gadget comes out, we wonder how we ever survived without it. It is good to know that time can be carefully preserved in Oklahoma City. 42nd Street Candy Co. is one of those places where time is wrapped in a stunning array of sugar, chocolate and a few whimsical gifts.

We all have childhood memories that take us back to a simpler time in life. For many of us, we can remember those summer days riding bikes with pals to the local candy store to pick up something sweet. For some of us, 42nd Street Candy Co. is that local candy store. It’s original location was in the storefront left of VZD’s. They have since grown out of that place, moving just a couple doors down to the corner of that same building. They now boast over 1,500 sq. ft. filled with all sorts of goodies. The store is warm and inviting which reflects the personality of the owner, Teresa Wall. Owner now for 12yrs, She is third in a legacy of owners who have done an amazing job preserving the look and feel of this shop. Originally a customer, she took over the business after 6 months of careful consideration. She thought, “This is right up my alley!”

Teresa lit up as she talked about all the things she is doing with the store. They recently have moved the kids area to the back of the store to better accommodate all the candy and toys. As she began to reveal her vision and love for what she does, the store began to take on a new persona. No longer was it a candy store that just happened to be off of western at 42nd. It became a place filled not only with candies, but with love, history and personal sentiment. Visiting this place is like going home. “A big part of what we do is community involvement,” Teresa explained as she talked about what they offer as a candy store. They support about 6 schools in the area. Being tied into the community, their main focus is with children and female services.

42nd Street Candy Co. is famous for having amazing displays during Christmas, Halloween and other holiday celebrations. Customers love how Teresa remembers them and gives them over-the-top customer service. Teresa is very knowledgable about the candy she sells. She makes sure to stock the shelves with classic favorites, but leaves room to showcase special candies from Paris. So if you have any questions, she knows just where to steer you. Another thing that sets this shop apart from the rest is that they don’t “cookie cutter everything”. All orders are served up with the individual in mind. Every basket is different. Teresa has built here business around her customers. She visits with them, gets to know their likes and dislikes. By doing so, she is better able to serve their needs.

Family is another unique aspect of Teresa’s store. Her son helps with running the store, mom keeps the books, sister-in-law helps and cousins chip in with the duties as well. “We’re a real tight family,” she explains. Her family helps keep the authenticity and integrity of what they are about. They also hire local high school students to work after school. Teresa enjoys being able to see kids come in at all ages. Even the littles come in and ask if they too can work at the store when they are older. Teresa lovingly tells them, “When you get to sixteen, you come back, and we will talk about it.” It really is amazing how connected 42nd Street Candy Co. is to the community.

It is rare to find people very passionate about what they do. Teresa is inspirational in that she loves what she does so much and wants to share that with everyone who walks through her doors. If the sweets don’t give you a rush, Teresa will be sure to pep you up. We are so glad to have stumbled across this sweets shop off Western. Sure you can find sweets, chocolates and gifts at many other places in town, but there is something special about this place. It’s like cooking. Just following the recipe will do, but it’s that special ingredient that makes the dish. Teresa’s special ingredient is a bit of care and a whole lot of love. When asked what is her favorite part of running the store Teresa responded saying, “Hands down, it’s the people. The kids we’ve watched grow up. From little kids that have grown up and graduated from high school and went on to college. The relationships that we have made over the years. It’s so much fun!”

We woud also like to give Brenda Jennings a special thanks for writing in and suggesting 42nd Street Candy Co. as this weeks blog post here at We Heart OKC.