SAN RAMON, CALIFORNIA — The “coming soon” signs have given way to something much more colorful–and tastier!
Lil Sweet Treat is now open at City Center Bishop Ranch, bringing an international candy shop with a social media following to San Ramon.
We first reported on the shop in May, when a City Center spokesperson confirmed it would take over the former Miette Bakery space. In July, its windows were still covered with construction signage.
Now, there’s candy!
A Colorful First Look
I visited the new candy shop to see what’s inside.
Basically, you’ll find bins filled with colorful candies from all over the world.
There are yellow gummy rings, pink sugar-coated sweets, red-and-white heart-shaped candies, and plenty of other shapes and colors competing for attention.
Outside, coral-colored lettering spells out the store’s name. Inside, even the merchandise gets in on the theme, with branded T-shirts hanging alongside the candy displays.
The shop looks quite trendy and minimalistic–not the chaotic candy stores you might be used to in the Bay Area.
Of course, you’re there for what’s in the bins, not the decor.
What’s Inside the Bins?
Lil Sweet Treat specializes in globally sourced gummies and sweets, including imports from Sweden, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, and France.
Shoppers can mix and match candies in-store. You grab a bag, use tongs to choose the candy you want, and then pay by the pound.
The company says it regularly refreshes its selection, so the assortment can change between visits.
Lil Sweet Treat labels options such as gluten-free, vegan, gelatin-free, and naturally dyed candies. They also have labels showing the sweetness, chewiness and country of origin for each candy.
The TikTok Connection
The shop’s social media roots go beyond candy that photographs well.
Founder Elly Ross documented the process of opening her first store online, sharing the setbacks as well as the progress. In an interview with Rockefeller Center’s magazine, she described a background in computer science and product management, and said the growing popularity of Swedish candy helped spark her business idea.
That trend took place on TikTok. But it’s since pervaded all the big social networks.
The brand’s own origin story also points to Ross’s travels and her habit of bringing sweets home for friends and family.
In San Ramon, that idea has become a storefront where shoppers can browse the colorful assortment in person.
When to Visit
Lil Sweet Treat is at City Center Bishop Ranch, 6000 Bollinger Canyon Road in San Ramon.
The center’s official listing currently gives the candy shop’s hours as 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
That late closing time makes it an option for a small stop after dinner, as well as a daytime shopping outing.
For anyone who watched the construction signs and wondered what was coming, the answer is finally on display: lots of gummies, lots of color, and a new place to build your own “lil” bag of treats.
