This Kelowna candy shop is making a sweet return

In the summer of 2023, Von Schweets Treat Shop opened on Bernard Avenue as a go-to spot for traditional sweet treats.

However, in December, the shop faced a setback due to vandalism.

The front window was broken, a poster was set on fire, damaging Christmas decorations. The burning materials emitted toxic fumes, leading to a significant loss of inventory.

“We had to throw everything out, literally everything in the store. Thousands of pounds of candy, everything in the store, all the bulk and the packaged stuff, too,” owner Daynna Barkley told Kelowna10.

“The insurance company and BC health and I decided that we would just get rid of and dispose of everything and replace it all.”

Initially, the hope would be they’d be closed just for a couple of days after the fire, but learned it’s reopening would have to wait longer.

“The whole process of going through insurance claims and everything, waiting for contractors to be ready to come and do their part for the next contractor comes and does theirs. All of that led to us being shut down for about two months.”

After dealing with the logistics and restocking shelves with hundreds of different candies, chocolates and other goodies, Barkley finally reopened his doors on Feb. 24.

The community consistently supported them during their restoration, which Barkley is thankful for.

“We tried really hard to make this a place people would want to come, and it seems like they do,” he said.

“People have asked us all throughout the process how things are going, and when we're going to be reopening. There’s been an active response from the community throughout the whole process of getting this place rebuilt and reopened again.”