Local Spotlight: Brandy Valdez | Owner of B.CANDY
“Local Spotlights” feature intimate interviews with local makers, artists and entrepreneurs in Newport Beach. Follow along every week to get to know familiar faces and creatives who continue to shape our community and make it what it is today.
Name: Brandy Valdez
Job Title: Owner of B.CANDY
A colorful sweet shop in the heart of Corona del Mar, B.CANDY offers everything from homemade ice cream and baked goods to classic candies like Swedish Fish, Ring Pops, Skittles and more. For owner Brandy Valdez, it had been her childhood dream to own and design a candy store. “I have fond memories of visiting candy shops when I was little with my dad and was fascinated by Willy Wonka,” she says. It wasn’t until her youngest son came home with a school project where he answered, “If I had one wish, it would be…to live in a candy world,” that she decided to make her dream a reality.
What do you love most about owning B.CANDY?
The most amazing thing is when a child walks in and lights up. Seeing their smiling faces as they enter our magical world brings us so much joy. B.CANDY is a family affair. My daughter, Bayleigh, designed our logo while she was in college, runs socials and manages the bakery. Her husband Cam is the store’s manager and helps me with purchasing. My son, Barrington, makes our ice cream and the other two boys, Briton and Brennan, work the register. The funny thing is my husband, Arnold, is a dentist, and he makes sure to let everyone know to brush and floss daily.
Describe your shop in a few words.
Colorful, sweet, unique. Oh, and Instagrammable!
Tell us what you love about the Corona del Mar community.
You know you’re in Corona del Mar when you’re driving down PCH and you see those darling dolphin topiaries and the swaying palm trees. We love the walkability of our charming little town. I feel beyond lucky to be able to walk to the grocery store and the beach. There’s also something so special about the holidays in Corona del Mar. So many businesses decorate for the season, and we have the CDM Xmas Walk every year. It brings a sense of belonging, and the whole town comes together to celebrate. It’s one of my favorite times of the year.
What can people get at B.CANDY? Tell us a must-try item!
Our ice cream and baked goods are all made in-house. The most popular ice cream flavors would have to be Cookie Monster, Chocolate Covered Potato Chip & Caramel and Coffee Toffee. We also have dairy-free options such as Mango Sorbet and Vegan Chocolate. As far as baked goods, it’s a toss-up between the sugar cookies and our ooey gooey brownies! We are so much more than just a candy store. We sell unique gifts, stocking stuffers, toys, plushies, pool floats, art supplies, crafts, candles, tumblers and more!
Do you have a favorite local restaurant? Which one is it and why?
Our family’s favorite is Foretti’s. We love supporting local businesses, and Foretti’s food is phenomenal! We highly recommend the Dolce e Gabbana pizza and the Bucatini.
What makes your candy shop different from others?
We travel far and wide to find unique items that differentiate us from big box retailers. We offer candy from around the world and pride ourselves in carrying hard-to-find, nostalgic items. B.CANDY is an experience in itself—it’s bright, colorful and fun for the whole family. We have the cutest photo ops available at our shop too! Our installations constantly change with the holidays/seasons, and the #bcandymural in our parking lot has changed multiple times over the years! It’s so fun to see families return to take a new photo with every wall change.
3 of your favorite activities to do in Newport Beach:
– Going to the beach with all four of my kids and my granddaughter, Bowie.
– Driving around town and taking the Balboa Ferry in our pink B.CANDY Moke named Malibu.
– Going to SideDoor every Sunday for our weekly dinner with the whole family.
Written By: Kaylin Waizinger
