San Francisco is having a candy moment. A wave of specialty shops, many focused on Swedish pick-and-mix, has opened around the city. Much of the demand comes from TikTok videos of brands like Bubs, the Swedish maker of foamy, pastel gummies.
Plock, Cow Hollow
Plock opened in September at 3101 Fillmore St. Owner Louise Norman previously worked as a category manager for a Swedish grocery chain. Its walls hold 140 bins of all-Swedish candy, sold for $18 a pound; the shop's site says it carries more than 150 kinds of candy and snacks. Plock means "to pick" in Swedish. The Infatuation lists it as open until 9 p.m., and 9:30 p.m. on weekends.
Lil Sweet Treat, the Marina
Founded in 2024 by former Google and Apple product manager Elly Ross, Lil Sweet Treat now has about a dozen shops. Its Chestnut Street store opened in June. It sells candy from Sweden, France, the Netherlands, Korea and Egypt for $22.40 a pound, from a catalog of more than 400 kinds, and stays open until 10 p.m.
Candy's, Upper Haight
Max Kolegue took over the 10-year-old Candy's on Haight Street in 2024. It stocks traditional candy, international treats and the latest viral picks, and closes at 7:30 p.m. daily. The Standard also points to Shaw's Candy in West Portal, Giddy in the Castro and the Candy Store in Russian Hill. Hej Hej, a Swedish candy and hot dog pop-up that ran in Bernal Heights this summer, is looking for a permanent home.