St. Petersburg

The Pirate Candy Shop to Open in St. Petersburg

A Swedish candy and viral treats concept will open in St. Petersburg soon.

Image from The Pirate Candy Shop website

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The Pirate Candy Shop plans a St. Petersburg opening with its Swedish candy and viral treats concept, targeting a mid-June debut at 1614 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33712. Owner Adam Lillhannus, who was interviewed along with his wife Sol, told Business Debut the location will expand on their Hyde Park Village shop in Tampa, which was the brand’s first retail store.

What to Expect

The Pirate Candy Shop centers on imported Swedish candy, offering a large pick-and-mix selection where customers can create their own bags with sweet, sour, salty, and chocolate options. Lillhannus told Business Debut the candy is made with high-quality ingredients sourced from Europe.

Images from The Pirate Candy Shop website

In addition to Swedish candy, the shop will feature a range of viral and international products including Dubai chocolate, wax candy with liquid centers, crystal candy, and Squashies from the United Kingdom. Lillhannus described the shop as an “international candy destination."

Top-selling items include candy from the Swedish brand Bubs, particularly their oval-shaped and skull-shaped gummies, which are vegan, gluten-free, and gelatin-free. Lillhannus told Business Debut these products have become some of the most popular Swedish candies in the United States due to their soft consistency and flavor.

The concept began as an online business, with the team shipping Swedish candy nationwide and fulfilling orders in all 50 states. Online ordering remains a key part of the business, with customers able to shop directly through their website.

Lillhannus said the business is family-run, with support from his parents in Sweden helping source products and grow the concept internationally. “It’s really a small family business,” he told Business Debut.

Opening Timeline

The St. Petersburg location is targeting a mid-June opening, following the success of the Hyde Park Village shop, which quickly sold through inventory shortly after opening, Lillhannus told Business Debut.