Candy Crush IRL: Viral TikTok brand Lil Sweet Treat Brings The Neighborhood Its Brand Of Global Artisanal Candies
The Instagram-friendly gummy candy wonderland launches their 1st Philly store, meeting the demand for its Candy Connoisseurs fan base at 1527 Walnut Street.
There can NEVER be too much of a good – or sweet – thing in our opinion.
Which is why, when you thought the neighborhood couldn’t get any sweeter with the recent delicious new ice cream openings and All Aboard Candy that are joining the existing array of yummy cookies, gelato, chocolate, and ice cream parlors, along comes Lil Sweet Treat to prove us all deliciously wrong.
Sliding into the former Tafts shoe store, Lil Sweet Treat is perfectly positioned between clothing brand Brandy Melville and jewelry store Mejuri, in addition to being the perfect fit for the space itself.
The Space: Willy Wonka Meets Minimalist Chic
Step inside and you’ll immediately understand why Lil Sweet Shop is destined to be added to our guilty pleasures. The space is a candy lover’s fever dream – pristine white subway tiles and sleek acrylic bulk bins stretching the entire length of the wall.
The setup is pure genius, designed to break down our diet willpower, which was on shaky ground to begin with: dozens of clear dispensers filled with everything from Swedish fish to chocolate-covered pretzels, each with detailed descriptions.
We need to talk about the labels. Seriously – they have descriptions so detailed they’d make a Michelin Guide reviewer weep (we think, we’re not that bougie…yet). But “Peach Pop Sweden” candies with flavor profiles that include a literal sweet-to-sour rating system, plus the country they’re from? It’s like Yelp reviews, but for gummy candy!
The Experience: Peak Main Character Energy
But here’s where Lil Sweet Treat really said “hold my juice box” – this isn’t just retail therapy, it’s candy curation with the intensity of a Netflix algorithm. The thoughtful touches are everywhere, from the “please bring used scoops with you to checkout!” reminders to pricing at $4.85 for a quarter pound so you can live your Charlie and the Chocolate Factory fantasy. No? Just us? Okay.
The wall art alone deserves its own TikTok series – they’re playful, colorful pieces that make the space feel like equal parts candy shop and art gallery. There’s something deeply satisfying about browsing through rows of perfectly organized treats from different countries no less, while surrounded by whimsical illustrations that celebrate the pure joy of a good sugar rush.
A Founder’s Journey: From Tech to TikTok to Treats
Founder Elly Ross‘s origin story is giving immigrant kid success narrative realness – growing up in a “very Korean household” and falling in love with international sweets by trading snacks with classmates. She turned her childhood curiosity about global candy culture into a business model.
She’s amassed millions of views on TikTok by sharing everything, like running through NYC in pajamas to sign for candy deliveries. Her comment section became an unofficial focus group, with “Candy Connoisseurs” weighing in on everything from bag sizes to the loyalty program.
The Bottom Line: Pure Serotonin in Retail Form
The timing couldn’t be better either. With the neighborhood’s sweet scene continuing to evolve, Lil Sweet Treat adds another layer of indulgence to our already impressive food landscape. It’s the kind of place that’ll have you saying “just a quick stop and look” that somehow turns into a full candy expedition. We, um, did that but we’re not mad about it. However, we can’t say the same about our diet.
Lil Sweet Treat is open and ready for you, so drop on by and
