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

Until this thread I had no idea that they were fronts for criminal activity.
So I’m doubly glad to see the local monstrosity gone.

I went with GC into one of the stores on Oxford St (swamped with them now) the prices were an absolute rip off. I flatly refused to buy anything. I’ve since read about illegal activities and failure to pay business rates at some stores, yet still they keep operating!!?? £10 for a bag of Cheetos & £4.99 for a small bag of M&M’s!!! Luckily we don’t have any around here, hope it stays that way.

Never heard of them I think there are none in Wales?

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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?

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).

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…

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

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

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

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

selling candy is the least of their activities.

Aren't they used for money laundering

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.

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

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

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.