Economy got you down? Sure, jobs are hard to come by and that packet of stale saltines and tub of cottage cheese are starting to look like a great alternative to the bomb Bruschetta you used to enjoy down on Melrose, but this doesn’t mean the end of happiness. No, far from it. If anything, the nation’s financial funk just signals a new need to turn toward the powdered white stuff - no, not that powdered white stuff (it’s out of your price range, remember?). We’re talking sugar.

In a recent New York Times article, it was discovered that for many Americans, the quickest fix for a Debbie-downer day can be found in a colorful bag of Skittles or a chocolate-laden Snickers bar. Candy is a cheap way to cheer yourself up, and consequently, candy manufacturers across the nation are finding themselves in the optimal position of actually seeing a rise in their sales as other industries are tanking.

Chalk it up to easy endorphins or nostalgic Nestle, but in times of desperate measure, it’s clear that the nation’s collective sweet tooth has a hankering for some of the good stuff. So put on your Sunday best, grab your favorite paper bag-turned-Trick or Treat-sack, and check out these cool recession-safe L.A. candy shops.

After all, it’s hard not to smile like a kid in a candy store when you’re stuffing your face with Sour Razzles and Necco wafers from glory days past, a la Jennifer Garner in that saccharine-sweet movie “13 Going On 30.”

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1. Littlejohn’s Candies

Tucked into the heart of the Farmers Market at The Grove, this tiny stand hosts all kinds of homemade goodies, from caramels to fudge to candied apples. You can even stand nose-pressed against the windows of the kitchen and watch the candy connoisseurs in action. If you have a love for buttercreams, fluffy marshmallow delights or sticky-delicious English Toffee, be sure snag a sampling of each. Try the chocolate-dipped fruit for a “healthier” sweet fix - the shop hosts rarer finds like figs, apricots and pineapples.

Farmers Market
6333 W. 3rd St.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323-936-5379
www.littlejohnscandies.com
2. Cocoa Dulce

If eating chocolate isn’t enough to tickle your fancy, then be sure to stop by , where you can take cake decorating and candy making classes throughout the week! Talk about innovative design. The chocolate mecca also offers a huge variety of domestic and imported chocolate products, Guittard white and dark chocolate sauces, chocolate wine sauces and chocolate fountains for rent. Oompa Loompas have nothing on this chocolate factory.

2023 W Burbank Blvd.
Burbank , CA 91506
818-843-1186
www.cocoadulce.com
3. The Candy Baron

Who says satisfying your sweet tooth is something reserved for your taste buds? Let your eyes get in on the sweet action with some eye-candy at Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade, where you can grab some candy and spot celebrities all in one go. The Candy Baron is a throwback to the old-fashioned, classic candy shop, complete with barrels of salt water taffy, licorice, gummies, Bottlecaps and pop rocks. Sweet dreams about days gone by whilst strolling along the beach - does it get any better than that?

312 Santa Monica Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310-458-6717
www.thecandybaron.com
4. Edelweiss Chocolates Factory

Sometimes a little bit of luxury can go a long way. If it’s truffles or liquor that you’re craving, why not combine the two in Edelweiss’s special chocolate liquor mixtures at Beverly Hills‘ famous chocolate boutique? Bordering on the bougie, this chocolate haven only produces the freshest of candies, each piece handcrafted and created right in the factory. When the economy doesn’t allow for too much handbag overindulgence, sometimes the next best thing is a drop or two of the sweet stuff to hit the spot.

444 N. Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
888-615-8800
www.edelweisschocolates.com
5. Munchies

In need of a one-stop shop for all things sweet and delicious? Munchies of Los Angeles has you covered. The Kosher shop carries everything from chocolates (pretzels, truffles, even sugar-free varieties), nuts (wasabi peas, cashews, macadamia) and candy (gum, chews, sour patch kids) to wines and dried fruits. Why pop pills when downing a few sugar-laden treats can give you that same rush of happiness?

8859 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90035
310-777-0221
www.lamunchies.com