What’s the price of indulging in nostalgia? Possibly just a couple of bucks at Handsome Dan’s, a candy shop that just opened on the Lower East Side.
The man behind the shop is Dan Levin, whose original shop in Williamsburg has legions of fans—some kids of course, but mostly grown-ups.
“I like to make people happy,” said Levin. And if they’re not happy when they come in, he said, they are when they leave.
Jars upon jars of goodies (more than 80 in all) made us gleefully relive our youth: three shelves of different kinds of licorice (Aussie, salty fish, and more), about every shape of sour candy you can think of (sour octopus, peaches), candy necklaces, chocolate malt balls, gummy whales, and sharks.
Price is $5.99 for half a pound; or grab a Mason jar and fill it up to make a perfect gift ($10, $15, or $20, depending on the size).
There’s also candy from Japan, including “sushi” kits and wasabi Kit Kats; artisanal sweets from Brooklyn; even Tabasco-flavored jelly beans.
Handsome Dan’s will be carrying its cotton candy in Earl Gray and rose flavors, and rolling out its famed snocones this week, using a Japanese machine that makes for super fine shaved ice, all drizzled over with the shop’s own natural syrups. A hit flavor at the original store is Earl Gray.
Handsome Dan’s
186 First Ave. (between East 11th and 12th streets)
handsomedansstand.com
