Dan's Papers - July 6, 2007 - RalphHampton Residents To Enjoy A Sugar Rush

Last week, the East Hampton Town Board approved the rich turquoise and white awning that will soon welcome visitors to the latest addition to the Ralphampton empire, Dylan's Candy Bar. This whimsical fantasyland will be a perfect stop on any Ralphamptonite's shopping trip, with its Charlie and the Chocolate Factory decor and tooth-melting array of candy, ice cream and sugary snacks. The children of Ralphampton will now be able to pick up some polo shirts at the new Ralph Lauren Kids boutique -- also in East Hampton -- climb its extravagant indoor tree and then head down the street to the former home of the Fudge Factory to devour lollipops bigger than their heads beneath a (20-foot) chocolate rabbit and a shimmering, translucent lollipop tree sitting beside a bubbling chocolate fountain.

Dylan's Candy Bar is the brainchild of Ralph Lauren's daughter, Dylan. Since its inception in New York City, the trendy candy boutique has grown to include branches in Garden City, Houston and Orlando. Although fans of the small-town Fudge Factory might fall into a diabetic coma while crossing the threshold of this multicolored marketing machine, kids and the truly young-at-heart will soon be dancing in the streets after sampling all the delectable goodies Dylan's Candy Bar has to offer.

Along with pretzel sticks, dried fruit and cookies dipped in the chocolate fountain, the Dylan's Candy Bar in New York City offers giant cupcakes doused in thick, colorful frosting and covered in candy, towering ice cream sundaes flowing with gooey fudge, nuts, candied cherries and sprinkles and big, steaming cups of molten chocolate when the weather starts to turn cold. Even Ralphamtonites on a diet can slink into Dylan's line of saccharine-sweet tank tops, t-shirts, bikinis and sweats, spray on some sugary Jelly Belly jelly bean-scented perfume or stretch out on an oversized Dylan's Candy Bar towel while daintily snacking on some of Dylan's sugar-free treats, packed in a sleek Dylan's silver "paint can" or clear plastic "tackle box." Ralphamptonites can even order candy takeout packed in pseudo-Chinese folded paper boxes to bring along on their Hamptons excursion.

One of Dylan's Candy Bar's biggest draws in the City are its sugar-soaked birthday parties, where the children of the rich and famous get free rein of the store, stuffing candy into chic little bags and decorating themselves with candy jewels. The store itself is enough to keep children occupied for an afternoon of fun and Dylan's employees are there to make sure that everyone is having fun so moms can pick at sugar-free candies and gossip while their darlings run wild in Dylan's candy palace.

If the East Hampton incarnation manages to live up to its big City sister, Dylan's Candy Bar is sure to be a hit with the summer crowd. But the question still remains -- now that Ralphamptonites can have their homes, wardrobes, nights out and days with the children all designed by Ralph and Dylan, where will they buy their groceries? The Polo Sport IGA? And what about the beach? Will The Maidstone be deserted in favor of the Purple Label Beach Club? Only time will tell.