On Saturday, Spaven’s Rhuthun branch had its opening. There’s already a shop in Yr Wyddgrug/Mold. And, given that its more-or-less child focused, it’s just in time for half term.This is in the former Doodles shop, Clwyd Street. Spaven’s is a traditional sweet shop specialising initially in 250 lines, including ice creams, and crêpes. It continues to feature Doodles’ paint your own type ceramics café and, again like Doodles, will feature children’s parties.
This is not good news for the established Sweetie Heaven, Well Street, unless Rhuthun becomes known as a sugar town, somewhat unlikely. Sweetie Heaven was established in 2006, at the former cinema sweet shop premises. Like Spaven’s, Sweetie Heaven stocks a range of traditional sweets, though apparently fewer of them. Like Spaven’s, Sweetie Heaven specialises in selling traditional sweets over the internet. In fact, the web business is probably the more important for Sweetie Heaven.
Spaven’s web site suggests it’s been selling sweets in Yr Wyddgrug/Mold for 25 years. That’s probably true but, back then, it was known as a newsagent & tobacconist. The coming of Tesco to Yr Wyddgrug and Woolworth selling newspapers redefined Spaven’s away from a saturated market into a new niche.Where once there were any number of specialist newsagents-come-tobacconists-come-confectioners, the breed died out, before reinventing itself as shops like Spaven’s and Sweetie Heaven. Whether Rhuthun can stand two, remains to be seen. Who will win?
Probably Rhuthun Dental Practice.