Candy Store

A World of Flavour

Trelle Burdeniuk

It’s an international sweet spot in the middle of “Nowhere.”  In her tiny Mortlach candy store, called ‘Nowhere: Your Confection Connection,’ owner Tiffany Olsen is surrounded by hard fruit-flavoured candies in colourful, pocket-size tins from France, coconut-covered marshmallows from a century-old Scottish company and flying saucer-shaped wafers filled with sour powder, originally invented in Belgium. 

“I’ve always wanted to own my own candy store. I’m obsessed with candy – have been since I was little,” Olsen said.

Olsen dreamed of opening an international candy shop after she and her two children frequently visited one while living in Abbotsford, B.C. She even picked out a possible name for her fantasy store.

“I (wanted) to call it ‘Nowhere.’ That way anyone who says to their kids, ‘Where are you going?’ they can just say, ‘Nowhere.’”

Although Olsen thought she would have to retire before she could take a trip to Candyland, her plans changed one day over a cup of tea.

Olsen mentioned her hopes of creating the perfect sweet shop to Mike and Sue Franklyn, owners of Mortlach’s Country Garden Tea House. The Franklyns offered to let Olsen build her candy store, Nowhere, on their land right next door.

Mike Franklyn said it was just natural for him and his wife to support a neighbour and friend.

“There’s not enough helping going on anyway. I mean why would we not? It cost us nothing to give her a piece of land,” he said.

Now, the 12-by-24-foot sunshine-yellow shop with a slanted, gingerbread-coloured roof and white door is Olsen’s pride and joy. She stocks candy from 15 different countries, including Fritt Strawberry Taffy from Germany, Creamy Toffee from Scotland and CurlyWurly chocolate bars from England. Shelves of rainbow-swirled lollipops, black current jellies and glass jars of lemon bonbons and gummy worms tempt candy lovers of all ages – especially children.

Olsen said that’s a huge advantage of owning a village candy store – meeting all the kids in this tiny community of less than 300 people.

Nine-year-old Reise Cook said Nowhere is one of her favourite places.

“I go there almost every day to get the chocolate bunnies,” she smiled.

The kids in Mortlach also love Olsen’s birthday treat policy.

“It has to be under $2 and we can get something free for our birthdays,” said Ayla Rogers, who just turned seven in October.

“I got the white chocolate buttons for my birthday,” said Rogers, with bright eyes still wide from being able to pick out whatever she wanted from Nowhere.

Olsen said getting to know each child by name is a wonderful part of the job.

“If I was in a bigger place, I wouldn’t be able to do that because I wouldn’t know the kids,” she said.

Olsen also works as Mortlach School’s librarian – meaning she has double the chances to connect with the community’s kids. Student Reise Cook said it’s “sometimes books, sometimes candy” when she sees Olsen, but either option is sweet.

Olsen’s shop is not only a big draw for kids, but also for adults craving a sugary treat or retro favourites like Mojos or Bottlecaps.

“Just seeing people’s reactions when they come in and find something they haven’t seen in a really, long time, or hearing them explain to their kids ‘Oh, when I was like this high, I used to eat these all the time.’ Watching the adults turn back into kids when they’re here, it’s really cool,” Olsen said with a smile.

Olsen’s dream is to carry sweets from every country in the world.

“So many different countries have way different candy than we have here in Canada. I just put another goal out there for me to reach for.”
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