t+l just in newsletter.regional specialties, rare imported sweets, and one-of-a-kind housemade confections deliver a satisfying sugar rush with an added dash of nostalgia.?we have a circus and sideshow mentality to the way we do business,? says brandon hodge, owner of the retro-inspired big top candy shop in austin, tx. ?when customers walk in they can have a few minutes where time stands still.?the yellow and red tent-themed walls are crammed with items to surprise and delight: antique instruments, vintage circus posters, and, of course, overflowing selections of colorful (often nostalgic) candy. lines for the old-fashioned sodas and blue bell ice cream served at the ?50s-style counter regularly snake out the door on weekends.beyond satisfying a sweet tooth, well-stocked candy stores like big top entice grown-ups with the possibility of rediscovering a forgotten childhood treat. on new york's lower east side, for instance, mitchell cohen and his family pack in an overwhelming selection of nostalgic sweets. ?economy candy has almost 2,000 different items to choose from and sells every candy and chocolate from your generation, your parents? generation, and even your grandparents? at the lowest prices around,? he states.
