Sewickley - Village Candy

iving
Sewickley
L
October 2015
an exclusive newsletter for the
residents of the sewickley valley area
Photo by Ray Cordero
Photo by Joshua Quattlebaum
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NeighborhoodNews
Sewickley Living
October
Meet
your
Neighbor
Doug Alpern – Sewickley’s Candyman
Written by: Kathy Lawrence
Photos by: Josh Quattlebaum – www.photo-q.com
October Sewickley Living
NeighborhoodNews
15
“The Candy Man can 'cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good.
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 Alpern. And, he does make “the world taste good.”
Locating his business on Beaver Street in 2006, Doug sells vintage 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 former flower shop, had a refrigeration unit. Alpern took advantage
of the opportunity. He created a renowned collection of sodas
from around the world.
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-oftowners 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 walking to work and elsewhere in Sewickley. He is the father of one
adult son who lives out of town.
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NeighborhoodNews
Meet
your
Neighbor
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Village Candy provides a variety of services – catering, gift baskets, 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. “Newbie’s” should do the same. You will be amazed!
Thank you, Doug, for making our Sewickley world a little sweeter.
VILLAGE CANDY | 344 Beaver Street
412-741-1490 | www.villagecandy.com
Sewickley Living
October
October Sewickley Living
NeighborhoodNews
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