Candy Dish

“Ever since my early 20s, I’ve wanted a candy store. So after working in tourism for 30 years I thought, 'OK, I’m finally going to pursue that candy store I’ve always wanted,'” says Shirley Hartwell, owner of Candy Dish. During the years she led tours throughout Canada, whenever she had a free moment to spare in each destination her first stop was always the local candy store. A long-time resident of Steveston, Shirley began working part-time in the quaint fishing community's only local candy shop and as luck would have it the previous owner was planning to retire.

At midnight on Halloween in 2010, Shirley took ownership of the store and changed the name to Candy Dish in tribute to her lifelong fascination. “I’ve always loved to see candy dishes overflowing with candy,” explains Shirley, who has decorated the store with her unique candy dish collection. “Everyone has nice memories of grandma’s candy dish that they used to get treats out of, so it’s also nostalgic.”

Catering to candy lovers young and old, the Candy Dish has a delightful mix of the latest and greatest candies that excite the wee ones, while adults of all ages enjoy a trip down memory lane with the great selection of nostalgic candy. “We get all demographics, everyone loves candy; it’s a common denominator,” smiles Shirley, who enjoys meeting the diverse range of people that the Candy Dish attracts. Growing up, Shirley used to chew a lot of gum, saving it and chewing it over and over again, a little ritual she says her friends still remember and mention from time to time.