Emily Grossman and Alyssa Bonventure, co-owners of All Aboard Candy, opened their Rittenhouse Square store last June with a clear mission. “If you’re an adult, we want you to feel like a kid again,” says Bonventure. “And if you’re a kid, we want to introduce you to the joy of feeling like a kid in a candy store.”
People of a certain age will recall when penny candy stores were as common as convenience stores are today. Luckily for candy lovers of all ages, Grossman and Bonventure believe “candy is having a moment,” in large part thanks to social media.
Friends since the sixth grade, the two 30-somethings saw their peers experimenting with cool hobbies when the COVID-19 pandemic began. They brainstormed business ideas, giving jewelry making a try, but found it way too complicated. Then Bonventure remembered a bachelorette party she had attended in New York where the hostess created a “charcuterie” tray of colorful bulk candies. She and Grossman thought they could have fun with the candy board concept and maybe even sell some. Both women grew up in “fun food” households where candy was taboo-free. Grossman’s great-grandmother kept chocolates in her bedside table, and her mother “never went to synagogue without a bag of Haribo gummies in her pocket.” Bonventure, meanwhile, fondly remembers frequenting the Candy Kitchen in Ocean City, Maryland, as a child. Partnering on a candy business just felt right.
We want to introduce you to the joy of feeling like a kid in a candy store.”
— Alyssa Bonventure
To test the idea, they assembled a candy board for a relative’s graduation party in 2020. They posted photos on Instagram, and the enthusiastic response launched their business. Soon, they were shipping candy boards nationwide. In April 2022, the pair diversified into candy catering, creating colorful “candy bars” — self-serve displays of sweet pick-and-mix treats.
Bonventure, a hospitality marketing professional, knows the power of social media. Before opening their store, the partners built an online presence with ASMR-style videos featuring Grossman scooping a variety of candies. Soon they attracted over 4 million views. Moving from online to brick-and-mortar was a bold move, but Bonventure says, “We saw a lot of candy stores popping up around other cities, and we were just kind of like, if one of those expands into Philadelphia and it’s not us, after we’ve been doing this for five years, we would be sad.”
Those craving the Danish salted black licorice trending on TikTok or a dazzling selection of Swedish gummies will find a colorful wall of choices available by the ounce at All Aboard Candy. There’s also a tempting table of old-school favorites like Junior Mints, Caramel Creams and Peanut Chews, plus a wide array of candy-adjacent gifts like candles, cards and games.
When it comes to giving candy as a gift this Valentine’s Day, Bonventure advises, “Don’t overthink it. I think when in doubt, a candy gift is a really easy gift that will bring joy.” The co-owners say customers routinely enter the store with phone cameras rolling. One couple filmed their selections from the candy wall, then paused outside the store window to feed each other candy in a very cinematic moment. “This happens all the time,” Grossman says with a smile.
Candy Cocktails
If you want to up your candy game by creating a candy-inspired cocktail, All Aboard Candy’s collab with Dolce Italian Restaurant offers some options for adult beverages that will make sweet additions to any Valentine’s Day celebration.
Candy Sour
2 ounces cucumber-infused vodka
½ ounce Midori
1 ¼ ounces green Chartreuse
½ ounce fresh lime juice
½ ounce simple syrup
Ice
1 piece sour kiwi candy
Cucumber “ribbon”
- Add all ingredients except garnish to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously.
- Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a fresh cucumber ribbon and sour kiwi candy.
Panda Mocha Martini
2 ounces vanilla vodka
½ ounce chocolate liqueur
½ ounce coffee liqueur
1 ounce chilled espresso
Ice
3 chocolate panda gummy bear candies
- Add all ingredients except the panda gummies to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously.
- Strain into a martini glass. Serve chocolate panda gummy bear candies in a side dish.
