The Candy Box

Sweet Shop

What it is:

A seasonal seaside candy shop filled with handmade chocolates, fudge, and candy.

Where to find it:

Strolling along Bay Street, turn right toward Fort Road and follow the sidewalk – and your nose – until you see the hanging sign.

What makes it a Rhody Gem?

“It’s a tiny pink candy store tucked between the ocean and little Narragansett Bay,” says owner Melissa Hall, whose parents Roger and Jean Hall bought the business, established in 1955, in 1984. Inside it’s a pink-and-white treasure trove of handmade confections and seaside favorites like barley pops shaped like lobsters and candy buttons on paper. Hall notes that customer favorites include almond butter crunch toffee, sea salt caramels, and fudge, all still made using her dad’s recipes. “One thing that he always said to me was that The Candy Box isn’t just about selling candy, we’re recreating childhood memories, so don’t make too many changes otherwise customers will get upset!” she says with a smile. “What I love about the store is that we now serve generations of customers who come back every summer and are excited to share the experience with their children and grandchildren. Many of our customers have become friends and family.” A worthwhile prize after catching the brass ring on the Flying Horses Carousel, just steps away.

The Candy Box

14 Fort Road, Westerly

Instagram: @candyboxwatchhill