New Downtown Store to Offer Sweet Temptations

Heidi’s Sweet Shop is just the kind of place that you hate to love.

It’s an old-fashioned candy store with an irresistible array of goodies that can take you back to your childhood–and, if you’re not careful, add inches to your waistline.

“We’re trying to just hit everything, the old-fashioned candies, kids favorites, truffles, imported Swiss chocolate . . . just like an old-fashioned candy store that has a little something for everyone,” said Heidi Pedrelli.

She and her husband, Mike, who co-own Heidi’s, have been setting up shop in downtown Gig Harbor at the corner of Harborview Drive and Pioneer Way. Since March, the two have been converting the into a cheerful candy wonderland in an effort to open the store’s doors on the first of May.

The store is another way of putting roots down in Gig Harbor. The couple and their three daughters moved here from Napa Valley only last August, after falling in love with the harbor on a road trip in 2009. Following the move, the Pedrellis started looking around for something to do together. 

“Then it came to us. We so need to put in a candy store. That would be so much fun,” said Pedrelli.

The idea was a natural one, especially for Pedrelli, who calls candy a “daily need.” Heidi’s has taken shape on the Pedrellis' own notion of what a perfect candy store should be.

“We went toward things that called to us, that we would enjoy, thinking that other people would enjoy them as well,” said Pedrelli.

Bright yellow and aqua walls, lollipop decals and hanging Jelly Bellies make the store happy and inviting. White tables, rattan baskets, even a flower cart will display Heidi’s candies. A glass case in the back will house gourmet chocolates.

Besides reaching back in time and into childhood memories, Pedrelli has searched locally, across the states as well as overseas to find a wide variety of candies to suit every type of sweet tooth.

Heidi’s will stock childhood favorites like Bottle Caps and McCraw’s giant taffy belts, as well as Big Cherry and Cup Of Gold bars. Nostalgia selections include Claeys hard candies, dating from 1919, Idaho Spuds, from 1901, and Sen Sen, the original breath mint from Chicago. There will be Spokandy mints and Hannah’s lollipops from Washington, fresh-made saltwater taffy from Utah, licorice from Australia and chocolate from Switzerland.

The Pedrellis have also tapped family ties to a Napa Valley chocolatier, Anette’s Chocolates, to bring in award-winning truffles as well as beer- and chardonnay-laced peanut brittle.

For confections sold by the pound, Pedrelli said customers will be able to buy as little or as much as they like. Heidi’s will also do gift baskets and make deliveries locally.

Heidi Pedrelli will be minding the store during the week, with help from daughters Danielle, Amanda and Natalie. Mike Pedrelli, who for now still runs an insurance brokerage business in Napa, will be on hand on the weekends.

The store has already piqued the interest of Gig Harbor residents. “I’ve had a lot of kids pushing their faces against the glass,” said Pedrelli.

Curious adults also walk in daily to ask about favorite candies or find out about the status of the shop.

“This is exciting. We’ll be back,” said one harbor resident, Michelle Yeoman, who stopped in with her daughter, Grace, while I was doing an interview for the story.

The 7-year-old was smiling when she and her mom left. She was holding a sample bag of taffy in her hand.