​Locals have been drooling over the idea of a mega candy store ever since Ohio-based b.a. Sweetie Candy Company announced the impending opening of a new location in a Phoenix suburb. Drool no longer, folks. Sweeties Candy of Arizona opened this morning at 1050 W. Chandler Blvd. in Chandler. Planned hours are 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Since the company was founded as Bag-A-Sweet Candy sixty years ago, they've gone back and forth between selling bulk candy to grocery stores and wholesaling to the public. In the '90s they went back to the public model, eventually opening the "largest candy store in the USA." Sweet!  

We were thoroughly prepared to give you an eyeful of candy porn -- photos of rows and rows of Sweeties' beautiful displays of Wonka candies, Zero bars, M&M's, Jelly Bellies and other candy-coated goodness. Unfortunately, Sweeties isn't so sweet on getting some publicity. When we called to verify today's opening, we were basically told to screw off and that they would "call us when they want us to write about them."

Hmm...somehow I think we'll be busy that day. You know, washing our hair. Or buying gummi bears and salted caramels over at the much nicer and more accommodating Smeeks.

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