Curiozity Corner: There's No Place Like Dylan's Candy Bar

Where Troubles Melt Like Lemon Drops

Dylan Lauren has always loved candy, as many of us do, but she really loves candy. And not just for the sugar rush and delectable flavors. She sees candy as more than an edible trinket. Dylan sees wonder and beauty in the overall composition, the smells, the colors, and the bright packaging. She sees art, fun, and fashion!

Dylan's Candy Bar opened in 2001, however the love affair with candy began years before. Dylan's parents screened Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory for her sixth birthday party. Dylan was so captivated with the fanciful imagery, visions of sugar plums began to dance in her head and they've never stopped.

Dylan believes everyone deserves a little sweet indulgence with some glamour thrown in for good measure. She draws inspiration from anything colorful and unique, art, film, and fashion. In Dylan's Candy Bar she was able to meld her various passions into one cohesive concept.

The flagship store in New York City has grown to 15,000 square feet over three floors. Two and a half million visitors a year can choose from over 7,000 different types of candies ranging from nostalgic treats of America's bygone eras to sweets imported from all over the world. They also house a literal candy bar that serves candy flavored cocktails to the 21 and over crowd, a bakery, ice cream parlor, and cafe'. Dylan's Candy Bar is a bona fide tourist destination listing very high on many New York City must see lists. Who could possibly resist the allure of an award winning 10 1/2 foot tall lollipop tree or a 10 foot tall statue of Dylan's mascot Chocolate the Bunny?

Dylan Lauren and the fine Dylan's Candy Bar staff understand collectors and the appeal of collectibles. In addition to candy, Dylan collects rabbits of varying mediums and boasts a menagerie of over 3000. With collectors in mind, Dylan created not only the world's foremost candy emporium, but candy for the spirit. Dylan's Candy Bar carries a wide array of candy themed apparel, toys, plush, jewelry, and home decor. After all who doesn't feel good just looking at candy?? Dylan's innovation and success has prompted the likes of Madame Alexander, Mattel, Hasbro, Alex Toys, Pez, LeSportsac, and most recently Claire's Boutique to produce playful memorabilia based on the world's largest candy store.

Over the years various imitators have popped up and though they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery..........there's just no place like Dylan's.

Delici'oz Delectables from the Land of Oz:
Crispies and Gummies and Treats, Oh My!!!

The Munchkinland scenes for The Wizard of Oz were filmed during the 1938 Christmas season. Flower Pot Munchkin Margaret Pellegrini would often recount one of her favorite memories of Judy Garland during this time. MGM deemed Judy Garland a big enough star to warrant her very own trailer. The Munchkins presented it to the thrilled young star and she in turn had a surprise for them. It would have been quite a feat to shop for 125 individual gifts so Judy Garland bestowed them with a huge box of candy while proclaiming "Sweets for the Sweets!" She then very graciously autographed photos for anyone that requested one. Many Munchkins kept this treasured memento their whole lives.

The whimsical characters and locales of Oz seem tailor made for candy product. It's surprising there hasn't been a slew of candy Oz candies. The lack of confections from over the rainbow will make the offerings from Dylan's Candy Bar that much more special. Dylan's Candy Bar has had successful film collaborations with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Hotel Transylvania, and The Smurfs. They also stocked and abundance of Harry Potter candy. Dylan's next cinematic venture salutes the 75th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz.

Dylan's Press Release:

Dylan’s Candy Bar, in collaboration with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, is pleased to announce the launch of a limited edition candy collection to celebrate the 75th anniversary of “The Wizard of Oz.” The collection features special edition items of nostalgic, character-themed confections to celebrate “The Wizard of Oz” film for all generations. Fans of Dylan’s Candy Bar and “The Wizard of Oz” will enjoy delectable chocolate bars created for Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion and Tin Man, and hand-decorated cookies shaped like Toto and the classic rainbow. “The Wizard of Oz” Dylan’s Candy Bar collection will be available at Dylan’s Candy Bar stores and online at DylansCandyBar.com beginning April 21, and at a select number of specialty retailers nationwide.

“As a true fan of the timeless story, I am excited to debut a special edition candy collection at Dylan’s Candy Bar to celebrate ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and its 75th anniversary,” said Dylan Lauren, Founder and CEO of Dylan’s Candy Bar. “The collection represents the iconic characters we all know and love in delicious edible candies, like ‘Dorothy’s Red Velvet Bar,’ in colorful signature packaging that people of all ages will cherish!”

In addition to the candy collection launch, Dylan’s Candy Bar and Warner Bros. Consumer Products will partner to create a larger-than-life candy sculpture out of Jelly Belly ® jelly beans, found in all Dylan’s Candy Bar stores, based on an iconic theme from “The Wizard of Oz.” The sculpture will be unveiled at the Original Farmer’s Market in Los Angeles, CA, on May 4, 2014. For more information, please visit www.TheWizardofOz.com or www.facebook.com/TheWizardofOzMovie.

"We are delighted to partner with Dylan's Candy Bar to celebrate the 75th anniversary of ‘The Wizard of Oz,’" said Karen McTier, executive vice president, domestic licensing and worldwide marketing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. "The film's classic iconography—from the Ruby Slippers, to the rainbow, and the Yellow Brick Road—lends itself beautifully to Dylan's imaginative and colorful candy products, which promise to be crave-worthy confections for film and candy fans alike."

About Dylan’s Candy Bar

Dylan’s Candy Bar was founded in 2001 by Dylan Lauren with a mission to awaken the creative spirit and inner child in everyone. Renown for merging the worlds of art, fashion and pop culture with candy, Dylan's Candy Bar is a pioneer in changing the way we see candy. As the largest state-of-the-art sweets emporium and candy lifestyle brand, Dylan's Candy Bar is not your average "candy store." The modern day candy land is home to over 7,000 candies from around the world, making it the most popular destination for the ultimate sugar rush experience.

Dylan's Candy Bar stores are currently located in New York City, Los Angeles, East Hampton, and Miami as well as several wholesale venues around the country. Dylan's Candy Bar plans to continue expanding to major cosmopolitan cities in the U.S. and worldwide. For more information please visit www.DylansCandyBar.com or www.facebook.com/DylansCandy.

About Warner Bros. Consumer Products

Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.

Dylan's signature chocolate bars in commemorative wrappers:

Dorothy: Belgian Milk Chocolate Red Velvet
Scarecrow: Belgian Milk Chocolate
Cowardly Lion: Peanut Butter Filled Belgian Milk Chocolate
Tin Man: Cookies and Cream
Wicked Witch of the West: Belgian Dark Chocolate
Yellow Brick Road: Caramel in Belgian Milk Chocolate
$3.25 each (Candy bars in main character wrappers will also be sold as a gift set)