By LIAM DURKIN
TAKE you to the candy shop.
Local kids rejoiced after the doors to Lolly Kingdom, Traralgon were flung back open at the weekend.
The beloved store looked certain to close for good after a senseless break-in last month left $30,000 worth of damage.
Business owners however weren’t about to let one idiot ruin it for everyone.
Staff got to work on an extensive clean-up, taking the best part of two weeks to repair and restock, before announcing its reopening.
Saturday was the first day of trade since the closure.
Business was booming from 10am, with parents and kids filing through the doors to fill their lolly bags.
While consuming candy wouldn’t usually be allowed that early in the morning, parents were happy to make an exception on this occasion.
All the favourites were there: sherbets, Zappos, freckles and an array of lollipops. Lolly Kingdom has also recalibrated, and now offers milkshakes and hot drinks.
Perhaps most importantly however, Dippin Dots ice cream is back on the menu.
Lolly Kingdom, Traralgon is the only venue in town that sells the liquid nitrogen novelty ‘beaded ice cream’.
Store manager Logan Hedger said the team had banded together to see the store reopened little more than a month after the vandalism.
“Feels amazing, very upbeat,” he told the Express.
“We weren’t going to give up.”
Those visiting the shop last Saturday were treated to free fairy floss, while face painting was also available.
Showing it has community front-of-mind, Lolly Kingdom, Traralgon donated all profits from its first day of trade to two local fundraisers.
The store is operating six days a week on temporary hours.
