Dracut officially has a store dedicated to candy!
Tully’s Sweet Treats opened June 16 at Bridgewood Plaza, 1794 Bridge Street, Unit 19, on June 16, and Dracut Economic Development held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 27. (A grand opening is planned at the store for June 28, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with chances to win a 42-inch TV, as well as gift cards from local retailers and service providers.)
Tully’s specializes in freeze-dried candies, though the store also sells regular, name-brand candy, as well as other retail products.
Owner Anna Tully, a resident of Bryan Avenue in Dracut, started freeze-drying candy a couple years ago, buying a freeze-dryer and utilizing a shared kitchen in the basement of Christ Church United on Arlington Street in Dracut.
Her goal when she started was to open a storefront, and she checked that off her list.
Anna sold her “sweet treats” at fairs and markets around the area, building up a strong following. She freeze-dries name-brand products, then sells them under different names – for instance, freeze-dried Skittles become “Tuttles” and freeze-dried Airheads become Airy Annas.
So what else does she freeze-dry?
M&M’s, candy corn, Peeps, marshmallow eggs, saltwater taffy, gummy bears, peppermint patties and Jolly Ranchers are just some of the sweets that have undergone the freeze-dry process, which simply removes the moisture and changes the texture to crunchy. (You can check them all out at www.tullyssweettreats.com.)
Before any candy reaches the shelf, it’s taste-tested by Anna’s husband, Kevin, and son, Kevin Jr.
You can also purchase Tully’s Sweet Treats products at Farmer Dave’s, 437 Parker Road.
For more information on what products are available, visit www.tullyssweettreats.com.
CAPTIONS (ALL PHOTOS BY DRACUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT):
From left at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Tully’s Sweet Treats on June 27 are Dave Ouellette, Dracut’s health agent; Dracut Rotary Club President Ann Tinnirella, owner of Carbon Colors and Carbon Colors Apparel; Meaghan St. Jean, a member of the Economic Development Committee; Kevin Tully Jr.; Kara Curley, Dracut’s public health nurse; Kevin Tully; owner Anna Tully, cutting the ribbon; family members Judy Dubay, Patty Fuller, Kiya Choate, Jaylin Choate and Rylie Dubay; Karen Davis, representing the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce and Eastern Bank’s Dracut branch; and Ashley Antifonario, assistant assessor for Dracut.
Assorted candies you’ll find at Tully’s Sweet Treats.