HOLDEN — There’s some sweet sentiment behind the name of Al’s Candy Shoppe, the Main Street business launched by the McGreevy family in July.
“We already have stores named to honor some members of our family that have passed — my grandmother Elizabeth Ann, our barber shop McGreevy’s — so we decided to name the candy shop after Ryan’s dad, Al McGreevy,” Jaclyn McGreevey shared.
She and her husband Ryan, who works next door to the candy shop at his barber shop, grew up in town and met at Wachusett Regional High School. They are raising their three boys — 15-year-old Aiden who works at the candy shop, Mason, 10, and Gavin, 8 — here because they “love the Wachusett community.”
Jaclyn said they decided as a family to open Al’s this summer, and that “once we gave it a go, we became more invested in it than we could have ever imagined.”
“We did our research and traveled to visit so many other candy shops around New England,” she said. “My family knows anytime there is a candy store, we are stopping, because we are always looking for different ideas.”
She said the shop offers a wide variety of goodies, from nostalgic candy to candy made popular through social media, to milk free, gluten free, and peanut free options, as well as popular and unique drinks such as bacon soda.
“We aren’t just a candy store; we are an experience. We wanted this to be an experience for everyone, somewhere fun the kids can go, have a seat outside and eat candy,” Jaclyn said. “The kids love to come in and do candy reviews for us to add to our social media.”
Their most popular option is the by-the-pound candy bar, where customers can fill a bag with mixed candy and weigh it. Jacklyn said freeze-dried candy “has been the most loved new item in store,” and that they keep their Instagram (instagram.com/als_candy_shoppe/) and Facebook (facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090685193022) updated with new arrivals.
“We really enjoy it when someone stops in for the first time,” Jaclyn said. “It’s so fun showing everyone the new products or what we love most that week.”
New candy arrives weekly, they keep a wish list at the front desk where people can list what they would like them to try to find and bring to the store.
“We see families come in together, adults on a date night, adults stopping in to find something from their childhood, parents bringing in their children to celebrate a birthday or special event, and the kids that ride their bikes over to find something new and hang out to enjoy their finds on the chairs set up out front,” Jaclyn said.
The McGreevey family is glad the community is loving their new business endeavor, and Jacklyn said that they have had families from as far as Connecticut and New Hampshire stop by for some treats.
“We are thankful to our families, to Holden and the surrounding communities who have stopped in and shown us so much support and love.”
