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Death of a Capitol Hill candy shop

(Image: Rocket Fizz)

It is sour news. Rocket Fizz, Capitol Hill’s only candy shop, is dying:

It’s true. Our lease expires March 31 so we’ll turn into a pumpkin (mellowcreme) at the stroke of midnight. We opted not to renew the multi-year agreement at the Hollywood Lofts building.

“We’re grateful for the five years (of mostly) fun and sweet customers. No immediate plans to reopen, in Seattle,” owner Theresa Sindelar adds.

It will not be the sweetest repose.

Rocket Fizz’s final days on Capitol Hill through pandemic included a break-in and the lockdown blues as Sindelar turned to community fundraising to make ends meet.

The franchise store part of a national chain of sweet spots opened on Broadway in the summer of 2016 when only trick or treaters wore masks and the street around the just-opened light rail station was ready to bounce back after years of construction. Sindelar moved to Seattle to start the shop after helping her brother with his candy shop in Lincoln, Nebraska.

It was just so fun to have happy customers every day – i just kind of fell in love with concept and found out Seattle didn’t have one yet, so he kind of helped me get it off the ground. We figured Capitol Hill has a great vibe and a kinda fits in with our inventory,” Sindelar said at the time.

With its lease at a milestone, Rocket Fizz’s fizzle might not fit squarely in CHS’s roster of COVID-19 closures but we’re adding it to the pandemic list of shutdowns. It was a sweet little business until a bitter 2020 came along.

The 127 Broadway E shop is still open for a few more days if you want to stock away some sweetness for the rest of 2021.

Capitol Hill and Central District COVID-19 Crisis Closures: CHS has tried to confirm all reported statuses. Please let us know if any information needs to be updated [email protected] -- LAST UPDATED: 3/23/21

Food and drink

  • Little Neon Taco, reported 3/1/2021
  • By Tae, reported 3/1/2021
  • R Place, reported 2/2/2021
  • The Wandering Goose, reported 12/29/2020
  • Barca, announced 11/11/2020
  • Suika, lease issues, announced 9/27/2020
  • Juicebox Cafe, announced 9/28/20
  • Heritage Distilling Capitol Hill, announced 9/25/20
  • Amandine, closing 9/30/20 announced 9/25/20
  • Bar Sue, announced 9/25/20
  • Marination Station, announced 9/14/20
  • Ha Na, announced 8/27/20
  • Intrigue Coffeehouse, announced 8/21/20
  • Nates Wings & Waffles, Happy Grillmore and the Central District Ice Cream Company, announced 8/6/20
  • Americana, Broadway, announced 7/23/20
  • The Lounge by AT&T and Ada’s Discovery Cafe, E Thomas, announced 7/7/20
  • Bill's Off Broadway, E Pine, announced 6/24/20
  • Stumptown, 12th Ave, announced 5/26/20
  • Adana, 15th and Pine, announced 5/21/20
  • Tougo, 18th and Union, announced early April, Yesler location remains open
  • My Thai, 10th Ave E, closed but we're not sure when it shuttered

Retail and more

  • Rocket Fizz, reported 3/23/2021
  • Drizzle and Shine, BurnCycle, and Blue Sky Cleaners, reported 3/1/2021
  • Everyday Music, 10th Ave, June 2021
  • QFC, 15th Ave E, 4/24/21
  • Sameday Testing, 15th Ave E, February
  • GameStop, Broadway, 2020
  • Velocity Dance Center, 12th Ave, will continue as organization but leaving Capitol Hill space, announced 12/4/20.
  • Stock and Pantry, E Pine, announced 10/14/20
  • Take 2, 15th Ave E, announced 9/30/20
  • No Parking, E Pike, announced 9/5/20
  • Ritual House, 19th Ave E, reported 7/15/20
  • Totokaelo, 10th Ave, reported 7/13/20
  • Mode of Fitness, E Pine
  • Urban Outfitters, Broadway, youth fashion chain's exit began last summer as Broadway Market began search for new tenant
  • Le Frock, E Pike, consignment shop announced permanent closure in April
 

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3 Comments
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Candyman Can
Candyman Can
3 years ago

Kinda surprised is lasted this long, to be honest. How many people are thinking “Oh my home’s candy supplies are running low, better go to the local *Candy Store* to stock up.”

Bummer deal for them though.

Elizabeth
Elizabeth
3 years ago

That sucks, but yeah, covid must have been rough on them. I don’t exactly want to get things to eat out of a bulk bin everyone’s been rooting through and that seems like their set up. I might have been into a mystery box of unusual candy if I’d seen a sandwich board advertising that when I walk by though.