Those looking for their candy fix from one beloved store in Oak Bay are now out of luck.
Sweet Delights Candy Store has shut its doors for good.
“It’s been wonderful, love my customers, love spreading joy,” said owner Barbara Marquardt, “But I realized how unbalanced my life was.”
Barbara and her husband Ken opened up the sweet stop after moving to Victoria 12 years ago from Alberta.
Ken retired last December, and Barbara says she realized after all these years on the Island, she never got a good taste of it.
“We’ve lived on Vancouver Island for 12 years and in those 12 years, we haven’t been anywhere.”
She wants to spend more time with her husband, exploring the island.
“He’ll be doing stuff and I’ll be married to the store, and I don’t want to be married to the store, I want to be married to him and I so decided as well to join him in retirement.”
The popular store stocked lots of hard-to-find and unique items, as well as vegan, gluten-free and diabetic delights.
Oak Bay residents are sad to see it go.
“I think it’s a major loss to the Oak Bay Village because it gave it part of its character,” said Prudence, a regular Sweet Delight shopper.
Another Oak Bay resident looked on the brighter side, saying, “It’s probably good for my waistline now that it’s going.”
Instead of selling, Barbara decided to close up shop hoping Sweet Delights can be remembered as a family business.
She sold her last piece of candy to one of the first customers she ever had.
“I said to him, ‘You’re my last candy customer because you’re taking the last candy,’ and he was thrilled and gave me a big hug and handshake and off he went, so yep my candy is now gone.”
Now the storefront is up for lease.
Barbara will finally get a chance to enjoy a different kind of sweet adventure with her husband on the Island.
Rebecca Lawrence
