The Pirate Candy Shop will open this June in the Grand Central District | St pete Rising

A fast-growing candy trend that’s been flooding social media feeds is about to land in downtown St. Pete.

The Pirate Candy Shop is set to open its first Pinellas County location this June at 1614 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District.

The candy shop is taking over a roughly 850-square-foot storefront previously occupied by Tabatha Exquisite Touch Beauty Salon, which operated there for more than 15 years before relocating down the street to 1592 Central Avenue.

The concept comes from husband-and-wife team Adam and Sol Lillhannus, who operate The Pirate Candy Shop in Tampa’s Hyde Park Village.

“We actually ship a lot of candy to St. Pete specifically, so we know we have customers there,” Adam Lillhannus said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “We looked at Clearwater, Largo, and Dunedin, but ultimately decided St. Pete was the right fit.”

Owners of The Pirate Candy Shop, Adam and Sol Lillhannus | The Pirate Candy Shop

Swedish candy may feel like a recent phenomenon, but it has deep roots overseas.

In Sweden, the tradition of lördagsgodis, loosely translated to “Saturday candy”, has been part of everyday culture for decades, where families fill bags with a mix of sweets to enjoy at the end of the week.

That same pick-and-mix concept is featured at shops like The Pirate Candy Shop, where customers can build their own assortment by the scoop, priced at $2 per ounce.

“We wanted to open our own shop after realizing this wasn’t just a short-term trend,” said Lillhannus, who grew up in Stockholm. “These are the same candies I had as a kid. My parents had them when they were kids too. It’s been around for a long time.”

An assortment of Swedish candy from The Pirate Candy Shop | The Pirate Candy Shop

In the U.S., Swedish candy began gaining traction over the past couple of years, fueled largely by TikTok and Instagram.

Videos of colorful candy walls, exaggeratedly chewy textures, and extreme sour flavors have racked up millions of views, turning what was once a niche import into a widely recognized trend.

The category has found a particularly strong audience among younger consumers, including Gen Z and millennials drawn to both the visual appeal and the ingredient quality.

Unlike many American candies, Swedish varieties are often made without gelatin or artificial dyes, relying instead on plant-based ingredients and natural coloring.

The result is a softer, more “pillowy” texture and brighter, more matte finishes that stand out on camera.

“Some American candies can’t even be sold in Europe because of the ingredients,” Lillhannus said. “What we carry is a higher-quality product, and people can taste the difference.”

The Pirate Candy Shop will carry more than 100 varieties of imported sweets, ranging from sweet and ultra-sour gummies to chocolates, marshmallow-style foam candies, fudge, and sodas.

Customers can build their own assortment by the scoop, priced at $2 per ounce | The Pirate Candy Shop

A large portion of the selection comes from BUBS, one of the most recognizable Swedish names behind the recent surge in popularity.

Another unique candy that will be offered is salmiak, a salty black licorice especially popular across Northern Europe.

The Pirate Candy Shop first launched in 2024 as an online shop and pop-up concept before opening its Hyde Park storefront the following year.

With a steady stream of online orders already coming from St. Pete, the owners say bringing a physical location across the bay was the next logical step.

Be sure to follow the candy shop’s Instagram and Facebook ahead of its summertime opening in downtown St. Pete.