Candy Addict

Candy Addict
414 S. Mill Ave. – Tempe
480-921-1155
Hours: M-W 11am-8pm, Thurs 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 12-6
Light Rail Stop: Mill and 3rd St. #21

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Candy Addict – the Sweetest Place on Mill!

If you have candy on the mind, there’s a new place to satisfy your cravings: Candy Addict on Mill Avenue in downtown Tempe. This new store boasts over 1300 varieties of candy, including gourmet chocolates, popular favorites, nostalgic/retro types, sugar-free, international brands, and candy-related novelties. Independently-owned and operated, Candy Addict offers a fun, family-friendly environment with a feast for both the eyes and the stomach. Local candymakers, such as Cerreta Candy Company in Glendale and the Cactus Candy Company in Phoenix, are carried here and Candy Addict is the only Arizona retailer of Cocopotamus, a line of high-end dark chocolate truffles handmade in New Mexico.

Candy Addict was founded by Frank Ellis, who moved to Tempe from California after a 30-year engineering career in Silicon Valley. He wanted to start a business that would bring him into daily contact with new people on a basis that everyone could relate to: candy. He loves seeing faces light up as they enter the store, giving out free balloons to kids, and being a part of the downtown Tempe neighborhood. “We really appreciate how much the local community has supported us as a new business and hope to grow and thrive here for many years to come.” The store opened its doors the day after Christmas 2010 and officially celebrated its grand opening on January 8, 2011, complete with balloon twisters and a street magician.

In addition to providing a fun store for customers to visit, Candy Addict plans to support the community back by donating regularly to local causes. Already the business has provided silent auction items – jars filled with assorted candy and gift cards – to non-profit organizations that promote child care services and help adults with developmental disabilities. “There are so many needs out there,” Frank notes. “Our contributions are very small compared to the efforts people are making every day on these initiatives.”

Just a few of the items you will find at Candy Addict: PEZ dispensers, theater-size candy boxes, gumball machines, gift boxes with assorted chocolates, flavored licorice, salt water taffy, giant jawbreakers on a stick, ½ lb gummy bears, candy cigarettes, Blue Bunny ice cream, and a 24-ft-long wall of gum and mints, Also available are gift cards, services for gift baskets and goody bags, and piñatas of different shapes and sizes. Routinely Candy Addict offers discounts through various publications (including the Light Rail magazine) and hosts contests via its Facebook page.

Since opening in December 2010, Candy Addict has enjoyed a steady stream of visitors traveling on the Light Rail. “We always recognize them,” says Frank. “They pay in dollar coins!” The store has become a popular place for many travelers from across the Valley, as well as people coming from the airport during a layover or flight delay. “The light rail brings a tremendous amount of business to us, and we’re happy to show them how fun downtown Tempe can be.”

Candy Addict is open 7 days a week. For more information, visit www.candy-addict.com, call 480-921-1155, or email info@candy-addict.com.