I’m not sure if you can actually buy 2,000 pounds of candy here, but if you have a truck or large wagon pulled by draft-horses, you could surely try to at Powell’s, the candy-store to end all candy-stores.
Officially called Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, the first one opened in the new-Urbanism, family-friendly wine country destination of Windsor, just south of Healdsburg, in 2005.
According to their website:
The original concept was the sugar-induced hallucination of founder Michael Powell who had a great idea for a candy store in the unique mixed-use development that Windsor was building around its picturesque new downtown. The store is located in a Main Street USA style development designed in the style of Victorian America, with shops on the ground level and residences above. Powell’s Sweet Shoppe faces a 5-acre Town Green where families gather on warm summer evenings for movies, concerts, and festivals.
Michael, who lives in the development with his family, believes in the old-fashioned retail model where you get to know your customers, learn their names and carry their favorite candies. Michael also believes you should honor every charitable request and involve yourself in the community where your store is located. With these fundamental principles in place, the Shoppe was an immediate success, attracting over 225,000 visitors its first year.
The Windsor Town Council affectionately dubbed Michael The Willy Wonka of Windsor and the Chamber of Commerce named him business person of the year for 2004-2005.
Did you catch that last part- the Willy Wonka of Windsor? That’s no coincidence as the store has the movie “Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory*” playing on a continuous loop in the back, next to the display selling every kind of movie candy in the known Universe. There are even two authentic movie theater chairs right in front of the movie, so you can watch the Oompa-Loompa’s in leisure.
Every time I go into Powell’s, either with visiting friends, family or other scalawags, I ask: What was your favorite candy as a kid? And no matter what they answer, we find it on the packed shelves of Powell’s.
Nowadays, Michael Powell has franchised his stores to locations across California, Colorado, Idaho and Oregon.
Powell's in Windsor - it's trippy
Do you hear that family, friends and scalawags? There is NO EXCUSE for not getting me 2,000 pounds of candy for Christmas.
I deserve it.
* The one with Gene Wilder from 1971, not the one with Jack Sparrow from 2005.
