Aug 26, 2008

New candy shop opens on Waseca AvenueBy EastBayRI.com

Root beer barrels. Laffy Taffy. Candy Sticks. Fun dip. Bit-O-Honeys. Mary Janes. Lemon Heads. Sweet Lorraine’s.

Sweet Lorraine’s Candy Shoppe, a new store on Waseca Avenue, features locally-made gourmet chocolate products as well as classic penny candy.

Residents of Barrington for the past 17 years, store owners Muffi and Bob Sullivan have seen businesses come and go. Nuts N’ Such was one of their favorites and after it closed the Sullivans wished for something to replace it. A few months ago, as the Sullivans drove down Waseca Avenue, they spotted the “for rent” sign on a building.

“It’s a nice location,” said Mr. Sullivan. Located next to a florist it gives customers plenty of options for gift buying, he added.

The Sullivans believe the location is perfect, especially with two fitness centers nearby.

“We can fatten them up and send them across the street,” Mr. Sullivan joked.

Sweet Lorraine’s Candy Shoppe was named after Mrs. Sullivan’s mother. Their family always called her “Sweet Lorraine” after the song by Mitchell Parish and Cliff Burwell.

After deciding on the name, the family focused on the product. The Sullivans traveled to Chicago for a candy convention and came home with bags and bags of samples. At home, the Sullivans and their children had fun deciding what would stay and what would go. Mrs. Sullivan was the official taste-tester. She made the final cuts.

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