Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t it every kid’s dream to own a candy shop one day? You get to wake up every day and eat candy for breakfast, bathe in chocolate, and even brush your teeth with sugar, and no one can tell you not to. It’s every child’s gummy bear-fueled fever dream come to life and every dentist’s worst nightmare. Despite the fact that at one point or another, we’ve all dreamed of becoming Willy Wonka, though not all of us wind up becoming a premier chocolatier.
😋😋SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & more in our daily Pop Kitchen newsletter🍳🍔
Of course, for some, the dream of becoming a literal kid in a candy store does inevitably come true, and for one, Hadley Warren of Perryville, Missouri, that fantasy manifested itself into reality. The enterprising 12-year-old first opened the beloved Hadley’s Candy Shoppe in June of 2023 and quickly built up a reputation for herself as a favorite local stop for shoppers in search of a sugar rush.
Related: Fans Devastated as Iconic Tex-Mex Restaurant Chain Shuts Down for Good
Like most kids, she always dreamed of opening up a candy shop of her very own, and according to her mom, Morgan Warren, they had always planned to tackle that venture in the future when Hadley was a little bit older. As luck would have it, though, little Hadley seems to be a pretty good negotiator. After some convincing, she was able to get her parents on board, and Hadley’s Candy Shoppe was officially born. Unfortunately, it looks like after a short two years, the fan-favorite candy shop has officially closed its doors.
Early last month, the brand announced that it would be shutting down for good on June 15 but didn’t give any details as to what resulted in the decision. “All good things must come to an end! Which is why it’s time for us at Hadley’s Candy to say goodbye! We’ve had an amazing adventure as your favorite candy store, but we are closing our doors. Our last day is June 15th. Please come by and say goodbye while stocking up on your favorites one last time,” the brand posted on Facebook.
Despite the somber news, it appears that the local sweets shop had a record turnout for their final day, and fans sent the young entrepreneur off with a bang. A June 16 post from the brand reads, “We were prepared to close our doors, but what we weren’t prepared for was how many of you showed up to say goodbye! THANK YOU. THANK YOU for enjoying candy with us, THANK YOU for being so supportive, and most of all, THANK YOU for making a girl’s dream come true.”
How’s that for a sweet ending? Although this chapter might be closed for Hadley and her family, something tells us we haven’t seen the last of the little business tycoon yet. Maybe we’ll get a national relaunch in the future. Here’s hoping!
Related: Beloved Restaurant Makes Big Change and Fans Aren’t Happy: ‘I Feel Uncomfortable’
