Economy Candy NYC: Full Menu Guide, Hours & What to Buy in 2026

Economy Candy is located at 108 Rivington Street, New York, NY 10002 in the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan. The store is easily accessible via subway — the F, J, M, and Z trains stop nearby at Delancey/Essex Streets. Hours vary seasonally; confirm current hours at economycandy.com before visiting.

Economy Candy was founded in 1937 by Morris Cohen as a hat and candy pushcart on the Lower East Side. The family moved into the Rivington Street storefront in the 1940s and the candy business gradually took over. The store has remained in the Cohen family across multiple generations and is now one of the oldest continuously operating candy shops in New York City.

Economy Candy is most famous for several things: its halvah slabs (sold by the pound, sliced to order — arguably the best halvah in New York), its impossibly dense floor-to-ceiling shelving packed with thousands of products, its selection of retro and nostalgic American candy that's hard to find elsewhere, and its sheer overwhelming abundance. The store has appeared in countless food media features, guidebooks, and tourist itineraries as one of NYC's must-visit food experiences.

Yes. Economy Candy ships nationally via its website at economycandy.com. Online inventory is a subset of what's in the physical store. Gift boxes, halvah, bulk candy assortments, and many branded products are available to order online with shipping across the U.S.

Absolutely. Economy Candy is consistently listed among New York City's best food experiences for visitors — not just candy lovers. The store is small and densely packed, creating a sensory experience that's genuinely unique. It's a short walk from the Tenement Museum, Katz's Delicatessen, and other Lower East Side landmarks, making it easy to combine with a broader LES food tour. Budget 20–30 minutes to browse, longer if you want to build a custom gift box.

The most recommended purchases are: halvah by the pound (plain sesame, marble, or chocolate-covered — sliced fresh from the slab), retro penny candy that's hard to find in supermarkets (Mallo Cups, Necco Wafers, wax bottles), international chocolate bars unavailable at most U.S. stores, and bulk dried fruits and nuts. If you're visiting as a tourist, a custom gift box packed with a mix of halvah, retro candy, and bulk sweets makes an excellent New York souvenir.

Many of Economy Candy's products are kosher-certified — particularly the halvah, dried fruits, and a significant portion of the packaged candy. The store is located in the historically Jewish Lower East Side and stocks a large selection of kosher confections. Individual product certification varies by brand and item — look for the hechsher on packaging or ask staff for specific guidance.

Economy Candy is famously small — roughly 1,000 square feet — which makes its product density all the more impressive. Every available inch of wall, floor space, and ceiling is stocked with candy. The tight aisles and overflowing shelves are a defining part of the experience. On weekends and holidays, the store can fill up quickly; arriving on a weekday morning typically means more room to browse.

Yes — this is one of Economy Candy's defining strengths. The store stocks brands and items that have largely disappeared from mainstream retail: Mallo Cups, Idaho Spud, Sky Bar, Necco Wafers, Valomilk, and many regional or discontinued-elsewhere brands. It also carries import candy from the UK, Germany, Japan, and the Netherlands that isn't available in most U.S. supermarkets. If you're hunting for a specific nostalgic candy, there's a reasonable chance Economy Candy has it.