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One shop I was *not* sorry to see empty and closed today…

(28 Posts)
Witzend Tue 18-Jul-23 13:46:59

Extensive frontage, painted a seriously garish pink - The American Candy Store.

As if we don’t have more than enough ‘candy’ anyway!

That’s my Grumpy Old Hag thought for today. 🙂

Charleygirl5 Tue 18-Jul-23 14:03:56

I have never heard of it- perhaps just as well as I am in agreement.

Riverwalk Tue 18-Jul-23 14:07:50

For a few years now these types of stores which are all over Oxford Street have been investigated for fraud, counterfeiting, tax evasion, money laundering, etc.

Why they can't be dealt with, who knows!

Riverwalk Tue 18-Jul-23 14:10:32

Lots of newspapers e.g. The Guardian, Mail, Evening Standard, and Private Eye and the BBC have written about them.

Google them - it's startling.

nanna8 Tue 18-Jul-23 14:14:44

I haven’t seen them here but the description makes me feel nauseous. There is something about the word, ‘candy’ that is deeply unpleasant.

timetogo2016 Tue 18-Jul-23 14:38:40

So,were short of NHS dentists and candy shops are opening up. Councils will approve of anything to get council tax.

MerylStreep Tue 18-Jul-23 14:45:04

Charleygirl
You obviously havnt been to Oxford street lately. 29 of these shops.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12036543/National-Crime-Agency-urged-crackdown-American-candy-shops.html#:~:text=According%20to%20Westminster%20Council%2C%20there,9million%20in%20unpaid%20business%20rates.

Biscuitmuncher Tue 18-Jul-23 15:58:14

Aren't they used for money laundering

welbeck Tue 18-Jul-23 16:04:13

selling candy is the least of their activities.

Cossy Wed 19-Jul-23 11:41:43

I quite like some USA candy, having lived there for a while 😂😂😂 Don’t approve of money laundering or any other illegal use of shops

Tanjamaltija Wed 19-Jul-23 11:44:43

www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-61777445

Blondie49 Wed 19-Jul-23 11:45:13

Wish they wd shut the Edinburgh ( Princes St ) one. It’s horrendous on a historical street and nothing to do with Scotland - Yuk !!! and overpriced

wifey2003 Wed 19-Jul-23 12:05:29

Oh Dear , Grumpy indeed , they have some tasty sweets in there , great for trick or treat celebrations too !!

TiggyW Wed 19-Jul-23 13:32:58

Don’t buy from them! There’s a similar type of sugary dessert place on a retail park near us - there’s a sickly smell of sugar as you enter. 🤢
On another note I think everyone should boycott McDonalds until they get their HR act together…

Blondiescot Wed 19-Jul-23 13:38:35

Blondie49

Wish they wd shut the Edinburgh ( Princes St ) one. It’s horrendous on a historical street and nothing to do with Scotland - Yuk !!! and overpriced

Oh, I didn't realise there was one on Princes Street (just shows how often I venture into the centre of Edinburgh these days!). Princes Street has gone downhill in many ways in recent years. There used to be one of these candy shops out Gorgie way, but I think it's gone now - and if I remember correctly, there was also a small one in the St James Centre (but that was pre-covid, so it may well be gone too).

Ramblingrose22 Wed 19-Jul-23 14:44:53

I am lucky in not having a sweet tooth but the British also love their sweets. Believe it or not, people can survive perfectly well without eating sweets and sweet things all the time.
FIL had a big bag of sweets every weekend and stuffed DH with them. He had to have frequent fillings and now he has to have a crown on one of the affected teeth because it was filled and refilled so often. This will cost quite a bit as he isn't with an NHS dentist.
And I think I heard that parents of children who need to have their teeth out can't find enough NHS dentists near them.
I wonder why these children are having to have their teeth out?

mokryna Wed 19-Jul-23 14:51:17

Any business that doesn’t pay its tax in the country its clients are buying in should be closed, including Amazon, Starbucks etc. I can add investments and others, my small brain will never comprehend but use tax avoidance loopholes.

Buttonjugs Wed 19-Jul-23 15:52:07

mokryna

Any business that doesn’t pay its tax in the country its clients are buying in should be closed, including Amazon, Starbucks etc. I can add investments and others, my small brain will never comprehend but use tax avoidance loopholes.

I have thought this for a while now! Totally agree.

Blondiescot Wed 19-Jul-23 16:37:11

mokryna

Any business that doesn’t pay its tax in the country its clients are buying in should be closed, including Amazon, Starbucks etc. I can add investments and others, my small brain will never comprehend but use tax avoidance loopholes.

There's a big difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion.

posset Wed 19-Jul-23 17:49:56

Never heard of them - I obviously need to get out more! But seriously, they look and sound disgusting and I'm really glad there are none near me.

spabbygirl Wed 19-Jul-23 20:25:03

Uck!!! I came across a similar one in Bath, hated it

micmc47 Thu 20-Jul-23 07:16:33

Don't remember the last time I ate "candy" or even a sweet. The odd chocky biccy is as close as I get. 29 of these on Oxford Street? How very odd. I'm not surprised they're attracting attention to see what else might be going on.

Witzend Thu 20-Jul-23 08:53:32

wifey2023, we don’t need American Candy Stores for Halloween treats - our home-grown shops are absolutely awash with all sorts of them all through October. M&S chocolate eyeballs have gone down very well with Gdcs.

Eloethan Thu 20-Jul-23 08:55:12

Oxford Street needs a real shake-up. It looks cheap and tatty.

Hetty58 Thu 20-Jul-23 09:02:03

Ramblingrose22, two of my children had to have teeth removed - simply because there wasn't room for them (having inherited my horsey gnashers)!

Luckily, we had enough NHS dentists back then. Now, all my children and grandchildren have to use private dentists.