SewickleyLivingan exclusive newsletter for the residents of the sewickley valley area

October 2015

Photo by Ray CorderoPhoto by Joshua Quattlebaum

15October Sewickley Living14 Sewickley Living October NeighborhoodNewsNeighborhoodNews

Do you remember these lyrics to the popular song “Candy Man” by Sammy Davis, Jr.?

We are lucky to have a Candy Man in Sewickley – Doug Alp-ern. And, he does make “the world taste good.”

Locating his business on Beaver Street in 2006, Doug sells vin-tage candy for us all to enjoy. I was delighted to walk through the store, seeing coveted treats from my childhood – candy cigarettes, old-fashioned bubble gum, Swedish fish, and a vast assortment of jellybeans. The store is a candy museum, with attractive displays at every turn. There also is a host of unusual and “new age” candy.

Sodas are another specialty item. The Beaver Street space, a for-mer flower shop, had a refrigeration unit. Alpern took advantage of the opportunity. He created a renowned collection of sodas from around the world.

Doug Alpern – Sewickley’s Candyman

Meet yourNeighborWritten by: Kathy LawrencePhotos by: Josh Quattlebaum – www.photo-q.com

Doug started all this after a varied career in the computer and book-selling industries, just to name a few. All the endeavors led him to being the proprietor of Village Candy. He does it all on his own with the help of one part-time employee.

The store has had widespread publicity. Doug explains that he has “regular” customers from the local area as well as out-of-towners who want to visit his unique store. For the youngsters who frequent the store Doug confesses, “I feel like a bartender. I listen to their stories. The kids are cute.” His smile warms as he describes these special times in his day.

Doug, a widower, lives in the Village with his rescued English spaniel, Annie. Unfortunately his wife never lived to see the candy shop. Doug chose to live near the store, as he loves walk-ing to work and elsewhere in Sewickley. He is the father of one adult son who lives out of town.

“The Candy Man can 'cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good.

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17October Sewickley Living16 Sewickley Living October NeighborhoodNewsNeighborhoodNews

Village Candy provides a variety of services – catering, gift bas-kets, on-line shopping, a monthly newsletter, and special events like soda tasting. Check the website for more details.

October is a fun month for the store – the Halloween spirit is in the air. Stop by again if you are a repeating customer. “New-bie’s” should do the same. You will be amazed!

Thank you, Doug, for making our Sewickley world a little sweeter.

VILLAGE CANDY | 344 Beaver Street412-741-1490 | www.villagecandy.com

Meet yourNeighbor...continued