Harmar candy store struggles to stay in business

A little sweetness can go a long way in hard times.

Just ask Robert Wyant, 47, who realized a lifelong dream two years ago when he created “Oh How SWEET It Is,” an old-fashioned candy store on Freeport Road in Harmar.

“I’ve lived in this community for a lot of years, and ever since the Pittsburgh Mills came along, I’ve noticed that a lot of small businesses in Cheswick, Springdale and Harmar went out of business,” Wyant said. “I just thought this area could use something like this that people could enjoy.”

For the most part they have, supporting the store and making it a successful enterprise for Wyatt for the first 18 months.

“Everybody that comes in here absolutely loves this place,” Wyant said. “Older folks will come in and say it brings back memories, and that’s what really touches me.”

But then the pandemic hit and Wyant, who lives in Harmar, shut down his store in March for two months.

“We lost Easter,” Wyant said. “Easter season in the candy business is just as great if not better than Christmas.”

Before the pandemic hit, Wyant felt he had made the right decisions to get the business established, even taking less profit than he could have by keeping his prices low.

“I went all-in on this,” he said.

Wyant was an independent vendor for the former Fudgie Wudgie Fudge Co. in Pittsburgh’s Strip District before injuries suffered in a car crash left him physically unable to do the heavy lifting the job required.

After receiving a financial settlement following the crash, Wyant used some of the money to create his candy store, which opened in July 2018.

Those who savor old-time sweets will find penny candy (sold by the pound) and an assortment of nostalgic candies still being made such as Turkish taffy, Necco Wafers, Bit-O-Honey bars, Tootsie Roll bars, Atomic Fireballs, Lemonheads, jaw breakers, bubble gum and more than 100 varieties of chocolate. There also are 60 flavors of cane-sugar sweetened sodas, ice cream and hand-spun milkshakes.

“The candy is awesome, and it’s unique,” said Mia Brunetti, 18, of Lower Burrell. “You can always find different candy in here. Anything you are looking for. I love all the old retro candies. I have a real appreciation for them.”

Brunetti was accompanied by her uncle, who loves the old-fashioned snow caps, chocolate drops sprinkled with tiny white sugar beads.

“(Wyant) has so many varieties. To have this inventory and being a small business that’s important to the community, everyone needs to come here,” said Jon Wildi, 57, of New Kensington, who also loaded up on Haribo Raspberries.

Jason Dvorsak, 50, of Springdale bought a retro candy known as Razzles that starts out as a powder and turns to gum, as well as ginger beer for the Moscow Mules he makes at home.

“It’s stuff that I got as a kid, and now I’m able to bring my kids and have them experience some of that same candy,” Dvorsak said.

In all, there are some 1,500 items packed into 1,400 square feet of store.

“Most everything I sell in here, you can’t find in chain stores. I made a point to do that. We use Marburger Dairy from out in Evans City as our dairy supplier. We always try to purchase locally,” Wyant said.

Wyant said business has been slow, and he has lost a lot of his regular customers since the start of the pandemic.

“I kind of cringe every time I need to place a candy order because I’m like, ‘Am I going to sell this candy?’ Because of covid, it’s hard to make decisions,” he said.

Wyant said he’s trying to make it to the Christmas season.

“Christmas will be good, but if we get a second wave and we’re shut down again, I’m definitely done if that happens. There are no more reserves that will allow me to hold on any longer. I’m just trying to hang on,” he said.

If he does, it’ll be one sweet story.