First Look - Amy's Candy Bar

By Anthony Todd in Food on Aug 1, 2011 6:00PM

We're suckers (no pun intended) for a good candy shop. Which is why when we saw the sidewalk sandwich board for Amy's Candy Bar when wandering around Ravenswood (text: Keep Calm and Have More Candy) we pestered our companion until we got to stop. What can we say? Something about candy stores make us act like children.

Amy's Candy Bar is a bright, airy, pleasant little shop that opened in June. You'll find many candy standards in huge glass jars lining the walls, as well as a good selection of vintage and independent candy. We were happy to see Valomilks, a midwestern favorite of ours from Kansas, put in an appearance. There was no stopping us from buying a bag of gummy bears. Her flavor assortment is entrancingly huge, and we love mixing a little play-acting animal cruelty with our candy eating. Come on, admit it - you pull the heads off too, right?

The real stars of the bar are Amy's home-made confections, including sea salt caramels, raspberry caramels, passion fruit-mango caramels and chocolate dipped pistachio-almond nougat. Owner Amy Hansen, a graduate of the French Pastry School, knows her caramels.

Next time you're in Ravenswood, indulge your inner child and stop in at the candy bar. You might walk away a few ounces heavier, but it's worth it.

Amy's Candy Bar is located at 4704 N. Damen Avenue.