Powell’s Sweet Shoppe

Great staff and great selection of candies, chocolates, gelato and sweets. You’ll need to keep kids on a short leash and maybe yourself too! I love their innovative gelato and sorbet flavors like Crème Brûlée, Smores, and Nutella.

Cutest hole in the wall, mom and pop candy shop in Oakland! It’s got all sorts for candy in the store and some I haven’t seen in years! I love that they have charlie and the chocolate factory movie playing in the back and has willy wonka candies around the TV. I am obsessed with the fact that they sell ice cream and handmade chocolate! Its the type of candy shop you see around in Pier 39 but local! Would definitely come back for a candy fix here!

If you like nostalgic throw back candies this is the place to find what you grew up eating as a kid whether you’re in your 20’s, 30’s, 40’s or 50’s today, you’ll see stuff here that you can reminisce over, but at the same time look at today’s prices and recall what those originally cost (case in point the «Ice Cube» gold foiled individually wrapped bite sized chocolates are $ 0.59 each when back in the days they were $ 0.10 or maybe even $ 0.05 each).
Keep in mind ‘tho, most of the throwback candy isn’t available, readily available through major distributors and is more niche and boutique, probably with small production runs and higher wholesale pricing, so the prices are not gouging but more a reflection of necessary profit margins factoring in the cost of goods plus overhead. Kind of like looking at collectibles and rare items from that perspective.
It’s a nice store with lots to choose from.

Adorable candy shop that boasts a truly extensive candy selection, and if that all’s not enough, a gelato stand too. Although the prices are slightly high for certain items that are relatively commonplace, they’re actually quite reasonable given the cost and effort involved in stocking such an extensive variety of offerings.
Service can be personal and sweet if the shop isn’t busy, and the overall ambience rings nostalgic, with Willy Wonka playing nonstop in the background and all sorts of novelty items filling the aisles. Worth perusing if you’re exploring or taking a long walk down the College Avenue corridor.

What an incredible store! I stood there in awe! They have ever kind of candy from my childhood. Boy, did this shop bring back a lot of wonderful memories! I was instantly put into a great mood! You must take your time and look carefully around the store.
Not only do they have every cool kind of nostalgic candy, but toys as well. Silly puddy, sea monkey kits & madlibs to name a few. If you are looking for something specific or a really neat gift for someone, this is definately the place. Plus, the two young men working at the shop were extremely helpful and delightful.
They also sell really delicious looking gelato & truffles. I can’t wait to go back!

New and old candies combined. Fun little shop that I stumbled upon on accident. I’d say at least stop in once if you haven’t already.

Powell’s is a candy lovers dream! I buy the gummy and sour candy by the pound! They have something for everyone. Whether you need a gift for a birthday, anniversary, or the holidays this is your one stop shop. Friendly staff who love their job and a convenient location with plenty of parking are two great reasons to go in for a gander!

Very poor customer service, I won’t be going back.

Super cute shop!
So many cute treats and toys to peruse.
Great service, when you can get it. When there’s only one person working and they’re trying to scoop ice cream AND work the cash register, the line can really build up. But they do their best and have a good attitude while doing it. So, I appreciate that.
They have a few seats set up w a TV playing Willy Wonka on repeat. That helps to keep the kids entertained.

When you hear people say, «I was as happy as a kid in a candy store!» well that’s the feeling I get when I am in this tiny store! Happiness comes in all different flavors but my faves by far are sour and vintage style! ZOMG! Every type of vintage candy bar, lollipop etc are here folks! European brands? yes! Austrian Mozart chocolates? yes! barf candy? yes! Harry Potter’s Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans? Yes!!!
Willy Wonka on a loop in the back of the store, uh huh! oh yeah and ICE CREAM!
If there’s some brand from your childhood that you’ve been looking for its undoubtedly here, have a hankering for some European candy from your last trip, its here!
Love this place!

Pretty standard candy shop.
My friend was able to get three chocolate covered orange peels for $ 1. I got the snack pack of Toblerone, with 3 pieces for $ 0.55.
They also carry some of nicer brands of chocolate, such as Seattle Chocolate Co. with 2.5 oz bars for $ 3.50 and chuao chocolatier with 0.39oz sampler bars for $ 1.15 and regular 2.8oz bars for $ 6.99.
Although the guy stocking candy in the store was kinda occupied, but the girl working behind the counter was super friendly and helpful! It makes sense that he was busy stocking candy, but if someone was standing right next to me, I would’ve probably said hi.
Overall, this place is super cute and great for fun gifts, but it’s a little far from me and kinda pricey. At least I know where to get the elusive chuao chocolates!

Time: 4:03pm/61°F mostly sunny
Purpose: Walking back to south end of college ave saw a superhero lunchbox with superhero of Superman. Base on that it was enough to reel me in.
Set-​up: Anything in the candy world was then has been brought back to life here along with some newer modern ones. You can get candies that was once your childhood favorites all in one place and some. A TV with real theater chairs to feel like real thing boxes of theater candies. A powder candie dispenser with spouts low enough for the kids to fill up straws. Wooden index card drawer file cabinet fill with small boxes of Chiclets and others. Everywhere you look you’ll see something that brings you back memory lane.
Staff: Kevin was a young kid behind counter help package, rings up, scoop ice cream, stocks shelves, and answer questions. He ask if I needed something I said maybe in a while as I was so into the place. Kevin went back to what he was doing so I continue on looking around.
Cleanliness: Very well kept and maintain. For a place like this I was surprise to find no sticky floor or anything out of package, kids like to try things without buying.
Eats/​Drinks: A medium size jawbreaker $ 1.75,slab of peanut butter brittle $ 2.79,and a roll of my all time favorite Necco wafers $ 1.59
Products: Chocolates, ice cream, soda fountain (bottles of vintage and new sodas) no real working fountain here, UK candies, carnival/​circus, superhero, sports, gifts, birthdays, cards, UK phone booth fill with candies from across the sea.
Punch Lines: Nostalgia feel, great staff, kids world, old and young, sweet tooth, moderate pricing, hard to find’s, TV, movie, superhero, sports, action, Pez, star trek, star wars, return of Jedi, smurfs, Alf, transformers, dick tracy etc.
Final Thoughts: Coming in here really brings out the kid in me was lookingbfrom top to bottom. Spent at least a good 20 minutes inside but within those minutes I felt like I was living back in it. Great for baby boomers and generation X. There’s not one candy left out in this place everything that was once out in the market is back in it now. Candy shops should always be like this no comparison here.

Call me Charlie because I just won the golden ticket. Candy paradise and chocolate heaven. Love that willy wonka and the chocolate factory is looped and played all day long, although I’m sure the workers there has had enough of willy’s wonka. Did you check out the grown cast of the lucky kids who got into the factory? Pretty cool. Violet, veruca, mike, Augustus and of course, Charlie Bucket. Just being in Powell’s puts a smile on my face. They also have gelato for a fair price. The only thing missing!!! Oompa-​loompas!
«If you want to view paradise
Simply look around and view it
Anything you want to, do it
Wanta change the world?
There’s nothing
To it»

WHAT A HIDDEN TREASURE!
We stumbled upon Powell’s Sweet Shoppe one sunny afternoon and were instantly mesmerized by the magic that lies within this shop. Your taste buds will be screaming! From vintage candy to your popular bag of M&M’s, this place truly has it all.
There are rows and rows of different kinds of candy, assorted M&M colors, walls covered in candy-​inspired art (not to mention they had Willy Wonka playing in their in-​house «movie theatre» and I caught myself humming along to the tune, «Just a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down, medicine go doooooown, the medicine go down.»)
We found ice-​cream flavored Chupa-​Chups here which was something I had been trying to find FOREVER. It was such a good day.
Then, to top it off, we indulged in their gelato! Three flavors fit into one regular sized cup, so three flavors we had! I recommend the Stracciatella, Salted Caramel, Mint Chocolate Chip, Strawberry Chocolate Chip and their Dark Chocolate gelato. Mouth-​watering good!

Greaaat selection of candy! I think it was like $ 2.50 ish for ¼lb, which is pretty average.
Wish they had more international candies because I know other Powell Sweet Shoppe’s that carry a lot more.
They also sell gelato here!
You’ll most likely find me here after exams … there’s just so much chocolate to choose from.

This is such a cute candy store! This place is stuffed with all sorts of treats, and reminiscent of an old-​time candy shoppe. And I love that they always have Willy Wonka playing on a TV with chairs to sit and watch!
But my favorite is the huge array of bulk candy, especially the sour candy section! I come here just for their blueberry and green apple sour candy belts! They also have a lot of old or hard-​to-​find candies, gourmet chocolate bars, a display case full of homemade chocolate treats and truffles (a la See’s), and another cooler full of ice cream flavors! And best of all, the staff has always been super friendly and nice!

Talk about EYE CANDY. Aesthetics alone, this place is GREAT. You literally become a kid in a candy store with your eyes bugged out in all the different types and sizes of candy.
Prices: on the pricey side
Variety: huge inventory… even some rare ones you don’t see in your average sweet shop
Service: mediocre
Feast your eyes on this place to get your sweet tooth fix.

This store is amazing! The superb example of how I would imagine going into Willy Wonkas candy factory. Then on top of all of the mountains of candy and sweets you have tons of cool eclectic toys to paw through. Its anyone who ever had an imaginations dream come true.
I found a fabulous set of google eye glasses that I proudly used in a photo shoot. A small insy weensy rubber duck for my son to play with in the bathtub.
Now to the good stuff. Piles of English Toffee, decadent Dark Chocolate Smores. My sons favorite color is yellow so we bought him his own bag of all yellow M&M’s.
In the back is a case of some of the most crazy flavored sodas you’ve ever seen. Peanut Butter & Jelly, Sweet Corn and yes, Bacon Soda. Ive yet to try them though.
I got a bunch of Rock Candy on a stick for mixing in our homemade cocktails on the weekends.
We got a hand full of Carmels and Toffee. Which my husband said was too chewy for his liking. However the Fudge was melt in your mouth good.
I bought a few Moon Pies for my self and my son. My husband isn’t a fan of those so the more for me.
The best thing for me was the Coconut Neapolitan candy. I haven’t eaten that in years. It used to be one of my favorite treats to eat with my grandpa. I only wish I bought more of them.
I can only imagine how many times the workers hear the phrase «I haven’t had this in years». I know I said it a thousand times while I was in here.
Ready for your childhood flashback? Have a visit and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

Reason for visit: create a candy basket for my bf!
Visit date: October 9, 2012
First time? No.
Oh so many treats! I love coming here to create (candy) gift baskets for friends and family! Powell’s has a good variety of common and not so common sweets. They are lacking in the Asian treat department (green tea and/​or hazelnut Kit Kats please!), but I guess we have Cost Plus for that. The staff is super helpful when you’re looking for something specific. I do at least three laps around the store because there’s so much candy everywhere you don’t see it all on your first lap. I don’t have a huge sweet tooth, but when I’m here I want it all.

Anything that can evoke nostalgia for the simpler times of yesteryears is definitely something special in my book. As soon as I stepped into Powell’s Sweet Shoppe I transformed to my 7 year old self.
We saw: a wall of Jelly Bellies (favorite is buttered popcorn), selections of gummi and sour candies/​belts, a freezer of gelato, an area of the shop playing Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and many old school confections and toys. Sadly, I was unable to pick up everything that caught my eye. We were forced to exercise restraint and treated ourselves to only a few select flavored jelly beans, some sour gummi bears and chocolate covered gummi bears.
The store is not large nor did I think they’re trying to be something they’re not (Dylan’s? Only similarity is that they’re both sweetshops!). But I’m glad that we stumbled across it the other day. You walk in and you’re truly in for a treat both literally and figuratively. Another plus: friendly staff.