Downtown Candy & Soda Shoppe will open in downtown Warsaw this September. InkFreeNews photo by Liz Adkins.

By Liz Adkins
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — A new sweets and soda shop will be opening in downtown Warsaw this fall.

Downtown Candy & Soda Shoppe, located at 112 W. Market St., will offer ice cream, sodas and candies. The goal is for the business to open by Sept. 20.

Sheila and Ernie Strickland purchased the property in July. Sheila said operating a candy store has always been a dream of hers.

“I grew up in Ligonier, where we were gracious enough to have a dime store candy shop named Penny’s,” said Sheila. “I remember walking into this shop as a child, with all the goodies, sweets, and candy you could imagine. It left an unforgettable feeling and I wanted to be able to give that same joy I had once felt.”

After becoming the co-director of the Kosciusko County Historical Society, Sheila realized downtown Warsaw was the ideal place to pursue her dream of opening a candy store. Sheila’s son, Jaiden, will manage the candy store’s daily operations, having been very involved in the decision-making process of the Stricklands opening Downtown Candy and Soda Shoppe. Outside of working at the shop, Sheila will continue her work at the historical society.

“On one side of the store, there will be a retro soda shop where we will serve delicious ice cream and nostalgic bottled soda,” said Sheila. “We will specialize in four handcrafted sodas such as Shirley Temples, Dirty Dr. Peppers, Cherry Cola and floats. On the other side of the floor, there will be a candy store, with penny jars full of your favorite candies, from nostalgic pieces you remember as a child to the newest, tastiest candies of today.”

“We are so grateful for this community being so supportive and are blessed to go through this adventure together,” said Sheila.