'Bittersweet' Changes For Popular Nassau Candy Shop

ISLAND PARK, NY — For 8 1/2 years, Joan Cohen fulfilled a dream of her daughter Hope — opening a candy shop.

Hope's Land of Candy on Long Beach Road was born with an ode to the nostalgic past of soda jerks and penny candy, complete with the Willy Wonka appearance.

"We have people who reminisce about their corner store candy shop in Brooklyn and Queens," she said.

As for the next generation, "we have kids who have been coming since they were infants and it's their favorite place too."

This is a "bittersweet," albeit, familiar story.

"Between the rent and the overhead, and lately not having staff, it was the right decision, Owner Joan Cohen told Patch. "After COVID, it was very difficult to cut a profit."

Cohen's "Land of Candy" isn't leaving entirely. A smaller location, directly across the street from the current shop, will keep selling candy.

"Because of the plumbing, and all the things for the soda and the ice cream, we decided not to bring that over," Cohen said.

Another change: the candy will be pre-packaged, instead of the old-fashioned scooping from jars.

Not everything is different, though, such as the popular homemade fudge.

"We will continue to make [it], and we do make homemade truffles," Cohen said. "That will also be all pre-packaged."

Cohen, originally from upstate New York, has called Island Park home for more than four decades.

The business will split in two for Cohen. While keeping her sweet treats on display, she's turning the current space into a DMV services company — HC Reg Services — where drivers can get help with most of their necessary paperwork.

"Part of what I've been doing for 40 years, is going to motor vehicle for people that don't want to go," she said.

Cohen expects in the short term to keep the Hope's Land of Candy title, but for accounting purposes, the chocolate shop is likely to fall under the auspices of HC Reg Services.

Name notwithstanding, she hopes for a seamless transition at both Long Beach Road locations starting Feb. 1.

Even the vintage player piano is making the move to the new candy store, as she keeps a similar look for regulars.

"Except, we're not going to have the counter with the stools," she said. "I'm actually bringing some of the stools and the counter to incorporate into the DMV section."