A little sliver of Southampton will soon be much less sweet. Charm me Sweet (4915 Macklind)—the delightful, independent candy shop that has been a beloved neighborhood staple for eight years—will be closing this week. Owner Brittany Bryan announced the news in a social media post on Tuesday.
“I’ve made the hard decision to close Charm me Sweet,” Bryan wrote in her post. “This business has been one of the greatest joys of my life, and I’m incredibly grateful for every customer who supported me and helped make this dream possible.”
Bryan’s sister business, the nostalgic toy store The Wonder Shop (4917 Macklind) located next door to Charm me Sweet, is also closing.
As Bryan explained in her post, the decision to close was based on two factors: rising costs and changes in the current business climate. “It’s no longer sustainable for me to continue operating in the way I need to,” she wrote.
Known for its nostalgic candies, such as chocolate coins, dots on paper, and wax lips, Charm me Sweet was much more than a place to get a sweet treat—it was a hub of community. In an interview with SLM last July, Bryan described the shop as a safe space for the neighborhood kids. Parents would often let their children walk to the store on their own as a first act of independence, feeling secure that they could text or call Bryan to make sure that they arrived safely.
Perhaps not surprisingly, Bryan’s Facebook announcement was flooded with comments expressing sadness about the news. “Absolutely crushing. This place was such a huge part of my kids’ lives,” one commenter noted. Another described the loss of not only losing a place to get candy, but a friend. “My whole family has heavy hearts today after reading this news,” the comment read. “We told everyone about the not-creepy and super fun Willy Wonka who was running the most magical candy store! Brittany, you gave us all a safe space to be kids, and we can’t thank you enough for the light you brought to the community. My 3-year-old reacted to the news by sadly asking, ‘Will we not get to see Brittany ever again?’ It’s not the store alone we will miss—it’s you!”
Although Bryan’s post did not give a closing date, Charm me Sweet’s answering machine notes that the store is indeed closing and that it will be open regular hours this week, from 11 a.m–7 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
Bryan’s post encouraged customers to “come out strong and support the shop for this final week” and noted that she looks forward to thanking everyone in person for their support for the past eight years. “You guys are my second family,” Bryan posted. “From the bottom of my heart—thank you for being part of this journey.”
SLM has reached out to Bryan and will update this story as additional information becomes available.
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