Site Of Iconic North Fork Shop, The Candy Man, For Sale

ORIENT, NY —The site where an iconic North Fork candy shop has stood for decades is on the market: The property where The Candy Man is located on Main Road in Orient is for sale.

The business, however, will not be sold and will close after the property sells.

Jim Michta, who owns the shop with his wife Debbie, has been sweetening the lives of locals and visitors alike for years, making homemade Easter bunnies, Christmas candies, sugar-free options, and other chocolates by hand for generations. The shop has long been a must-stop destination for those visiting the North Fork or for neighbors heading to the Candy Man for treats.

Michta, who said the business was originally started by his wife's grandfather, has taken great pride in the handcrafted candy produced at the shop. But the time has come to retire, he said. And as the couple bids adieu, so, too, will The Candy Man — the store will close once a buyer for the property is found, he said.

It's time, Michta said, for a new chapter. "Things are changing out in Orient. Over the last 10 years, all I see are buses going by. I used to see farmers with their tractors."

Still, he said, the memories are sweet. The Michtas make their candy, including candy canes and the famous Easter bunnies, by hand.

Right now, Michta said he's busy making chocolate-covered strawberries. And those who have a hankering for homemade chocolates from The Candy Man still have a chance to stop by. Although the property is for sale, Michta said he anticipates the store will remain open for some time, at least through the summer.

Michta said he and Debbie plan to remain in their Orient home, perhaps traveling during the winters, he said.

Their goal, he said, is to savor the sweet golden years, while they're still young enough to make memories.

Asked what he'll miss the most, Michta said, simply, "All the good customers."