The SUSpicious American candy stores plaguing London 🍭

[@TaraMooknee]

Alexander Temerko is Ukrainian, not Russian, d'oh 🤦‍♀he's had a lot of involvement in the Russian energy sector and the Russian Defence Ministry so I just assumed he was Russian and you know what they say when you assume... 🥴 He's now a British citizen and has donated almost £700,000 to the Conservatives.

[@baekkieony308]

Happens, you corrected yourself immediatly 🤗 it also doesnt make the donations any less shady imo

[@BeccaAl]

Thumbnail perfection Tara, was that you or the cow?

[@joeyj6808]

Sounds like a prime mover of crapitalism!

[@sithofdarkness8927]

Modern British success story: One oligarch at a time.

[@MrTheevilmage]

Tara none of your POV are actually POV's

[@solarmoth4628]

It’s definitely a scam. Running a candy shop is very hard, the legitimate candy stores in my town had a hard time staying in business and eventually closed.

[@andromidius]

Yeah, there's only two I know of in my entire city - and one is a tiny little store that moves around constantly because the rent is so high, and focuses mostly on items you can't get in supermarkets (super sours, for example - similar to American Warheads but ramped up even harder).

[@amandah8258]

My family owned one in a small/medium town. It was around for years but it also sold vintage toys. Its hard because the average item cost is so low. We had heaps of regulars but they all spent less than $10 a visit (in the early 2000s).

[@apollofell3925]

I've seen two successful independent candy shops in my entire life (I say independent because there are candy store chains that do well, like See's.) One was owned by Micheal Bollner, who played Augustus Gloop in the 1971 film, and the store had the film running on a loop on a big screen near the back of the shop, and it lasted about 12 years. The other, is the original Ghiradelli Chocolates in San Francisco.

[@Cha0s.Bring3r]

We had a franchised fancy candy store here for the last few years but it’s closed too now

[@asdfghjk8876]

The one where I live only sells to people with US citizenship. Don’t know if they’re still open but I thought that was the most stupid business idea given that we’re in Germany

[@airrietty]

I love how we all collectively believe them to be money laundering fronts

[@Palatinik]

Hard not to assume that, HMV building rent costs around £2.5M a year, that's +£200K a month in rent alone

[@lowwastehighmelanin]

whatever they are it's SUS

[@vaska00762]

It's not just a belief, the UK Financial Intelligence Unit and National Crime Agency have come to the same conclusion too. Their biggest risk factors are cash based money laundering, intermingling cash from legit customers with the Proceeds of Crime, and then often sending these funds overseas to """suppliers""" that aren't exactly real.

[@deadlymelody27]

Plenty have been shut down for money laundering and counterfeit products. One in my old town was

[@charli-cuti]

I went into a Candy store, that was very empty, in a US Outdoor mall today, and it was the only shop with a visible security guard inside.... not shady at all.

[@johnsmith8906]

We have around 3 in one street in Glasgow.....the theory that they are a money laundering front is a popular one.

[@thomasparker6124]

Likewise in York.

[@vaska00762]

They're front business for Cash Based Money Laundering. The "Candy" doesn't expire for years, so the stock usually gets passed between various front business. The UK Financial Intelligence Unit has released Amber Alerts to financial institutions stating that this is a known Financial Crime Typology.

[@lylukk]

glasgow is awful for it. it's either american candy shops or shitty tartan tat tourist shops. like there's a severe lack of decent shops you'd actually want to buy something from.

[@vaska00762]

​@@lylukkI went into a tartan shop in Edinburgh and asked if they had a particular clan tartan. They had no idea what I was talking about. I ended up buying the official Scottish Parliament tartan in the gift shop of the Parliament. 😂

[@johnsmith8906]

@@lylukk Yep, the tat shops are seemingly the only growth industry in Glasgow.

[@bessdavies6440]

In Italy it's illegal to not label items with their price. Whether it's food, clothes, you name it: the price must be displayed. It would be super simple to just change the law, but God forbid the Tories "enforce anything on the public like a nanny state" 😐

[@falconeshield]

Lots of legal stuff in Italy are crap too

[@penelopepenna6809]

We still do have so many of those stores, they sell candies by the kg, pretty expensive and always always empty

[@mpazinambao2938]

I thought everyone just always put prices on items. I didn't even think of people changing prices.

[@dylanbarracks3509]

Even a fascist country is right twice a century

[@Zulf85]

idk, they like to enforce how much them there gays and trannies (I am one) literally don't deserve human rights in their eyes

[@michaelwalker7400]

As an American visiting London, it's annoying as hell to go into a candy shop and seeing exclusively American candies that are severely upmarked from what it costs in the States. Sometimes even more than double the cost because it's in GBP. I'm also disappointed that Starbucks in the States don't have as good of choices for the bakery items.

[@steamvyrus6249]

honestly the best place to find british sweets is just a normal supermarket

[@tatianaaa4569]

never forgetting the time i spent 4 quid on a singular Hershey’s bar cause I’d never tried one before, I was so excited, only for the chocolate to taste like complete shit 😭

[@lowwastehighmelanin]

Wife told me they have them in Austria too. I'll just get that shit at home when I visit the family

[@habeashumor9814]

Especially because America makes some of the worst candy in the world

[@GenderedMess]

@@tatianaaa4569 NAHH same here, I remember finding a Cookies & Cream Hershey's bar and bought it for around 4 quid too. Tasted like actual vomit I'm not even joking you.

[@sarahwatts7152]

Okay but the bit she didn't say is that the unpaid taxes could fund 450 "newly qualified nurses" OR 270 "police recruits" - meaning that newly minted nurses are fabulously underpaid in comparison to their rookie police counterparts. I would argue that two such important jobs should have fairly equal starting pay

[@klisterklister2367]

Well spotted!

[@Robstafarian]

I would argue that one of those jobs should not exist.

[@zainabzolita8436]

​@@Robstafarianask chicago how that worked out

[@zombiecheney4583]

​@@zainabzolita8436Chicago did that? When?

[@zainabzolita8436]

@@zombiecheney4583 defund the police and now they are all crying about crime

[@popcornwallace330]

As someone who is in the process of being evicted from the house I was renting this is really depressing. The fact that people can own buildings anonymously, but renters have to go through invasive reference checks that make no sense is a unique form of cruelty. The landowning class gets away with anything while renters are screwed over. Worst thing is that I am one of many people being evicted and having to pay ridiculous amounts of rent while so many house and buildings are unoccupied in London. There's incredible competition to find rental housing in the city at the moment which means people are paying inflated amounts. I'm moving into a four bed sharing on the same road as friends in a five bedroom. They moved in seven years ago and were paying £2700 before their landlord raised it to £3000 this year. Our house, which is smaller with a smaller garden is £3200!

[@Schemilix]

Fucking hell. 800 a month to not even have your own place. I'm sorry, that's awful.

[@hollyro4665]

I’m jumping on your rant because the entire renting and housing market is so screwed! I rent a single bedroom with my husband from a friend of ours because despite the fact we’re both employed, his is full time, up until recently I was 30hrs and above minimum wage for half that time, that is all we can afford. Mates rates in a frankly crumbling house. We’re doing it to save money for a house but if we genuinely rented we wouldn’t have any savings at the end of the month. When we moved in there was mould on our ceiling and the bathroom, you couldn’t see the dining table because it was covered in binbags. The beige carpet had black stains all over it. The sofa till last week was literally crumbling and had a pillow that smelt like feet shoved in a hole on the sitting part. But we had nowhere else to go. We could go further out and it would be cheaper but then transport eats the rest of the funds and it balances out at 0 anyway. Some friends of ours are expecting their first baby. Their savings fund will be eaten up by rent and cost of living while she’s on maternity leave. On top of that we have a house deposit. A rather large one. Around tripple, will be quadruple the expected minimum of a house deposit. But because my hours have been cut down we cannot get a mortgage. It doesn’t matter we can outright buy a third of a pretty good end Terrace or semi detached 2/3 bedroom house with multiple bathrooms. Which is more than we intend to buy. There’s only two of us and we plan on keeping it that way. Because we don’t qualify for anything over 170,000 even with that chunk taken off. And that’s basically just a shed in a ditch at this point. We’ve had to genuinely consider giving up career paths we’ve spent years building, moving to areas with high criminal activity because of how cheap they are. My husband has a law degree and masters and a job that requires those things. I’m nowhere near as impressive but I’m trying to make up my end. I’m first pick of extra hours and made it so I’m the best choice for extra work and any development or higher opportunity. I tried to make a career move several months ago and it backfired horrendously which has set us back. (I took a job that wasn’t as advertised and it was more money but set back everything I’ve built up so far. So I was financially better of but career wise I might as well have been a 16 year old in their first till job) But I went back to my job I’m good at and they broke company policy to have me back but it comes with a cut in hours. This is just getting ridiculous. We are hard workers, one of us qualified, and we earn good money but it’s not enough anymore if you don’t want to be homeless or live at your mothers. Which as a grown married women would be particularly depressing.

[@Albinojackrussel]

Oh it makes sense. Some of those checks are actually government mandated. It's to make it so that any undocumented immigrant can't rent legitimately and must either be homeless or rent from an unregistered landlord. The cruelty is the point.

[@emb21982]

A lot of these candy stores used to be tourist shops selling tacky merchandise - they were half empty then and were probably also for money laundering. I think it's been going on a long time. It's a shame as it brings a bad rep to legitimate businesses - I have one friend who runs an American comics and candy store and there is a store in my local town which sells old fashioned sweets and candy from all over the world. It's obviously not a scam because it's in a place where the rent is cheap and they have queues of customers every day, but it's a shame to think some people might avoid their business because they get lumped in with these guys.

[@sparklingcyanide3519]

We have a similar thing going on here in Spain, but instead of candy it's phonecase shops. One particular brand has stores in the most expensive streets in every city, sometimes multiple in a single street, and they are all empty. It's totally a money laundering front

[@Staaahp]

We also have those in Greece. They pop-up in every damn corner!

[@mariaaguadoball3407]

Omg, yes! When the Covid restrictions started being relaxed a bit, many regular shops stayed closed, but there were dozens of these places open. To serve who, exactly? Tourism was still restricted. My friend and I pegged them as money laundering straight away.

[@nikolaasdigi]

Here in Belgium also, it’s so shady imo

[@asdfghjk8876]

In Germany too!!

[@KavsLockedOut]

aye, and those bloody vape shops. why is there literally 5 of them on my high street weve got like 10,000 people

[@liampoulton-king7479]

Guys, I’m starting to think the cow’s never going to show up. :(

[@holocoffin]

Maybe next time?

[@liampoulton-king7479]

@@holocoffin 🐄🥲

[@sunnysunflowers328]

Now hold on, she's just busy. Give her a chance!

[@Kiwi-hl2to]

she's a very busy bovine

[@Faustfall]

Have you subscribed? Maybe if we convince more people to we will see her in the next one 😢🐄?

[@Klikekoala]

Life sucks when you realise that all the major cities have the same "housing crisis" situation. I'm from Belgrade but live in Barcelona, and both capitals have the same problem with kleptocrats buying all our shit.

[@heysaras]

Yes. Even Russians fleeing Russia have descended on Turkish towns, bought up the property and driven up rents for locals. They are the gift that keeps on taking.

[@gio3311]

Another problem is air bnb

[@lianaborges7136]

Cry in Paris tears

[@JessicaMiller-pc4dj]

Literally every major city across the globe.

[@briallt]

it's happening in rural areas now too especially in Wales with second home owners, locals are almost forced to move away if they want to buy a house.

[@--Animal--]

I've seen one of these stores in a local mall here in Canada with the exact same products you've shown and oddly enough, no price tags on anything. It was very bizarre.

[@93runninggiraffes]

Something like this opened up in downtown Vancouver recently! No prices, and the strangest shite. Store was practically empty as well.

[@TheModernMuses]

There’s one of these exact stores in a huge outlet shop here in Ottawa, and while other huge retailers like Brooks Brothers and Ardene have left, this candy shops remained open even all throughout lockdowns. It has virtually no products, looks totally unfinished and people seem to just walk in and immediately out. Suuuus

[@ravenpotter3]

I assume no expiration dates too

[@pegcity4eva]

We have Dollarama everywhere that sells the same thing for less than anyone else so makes even less sense

[@justanotherpiccplayer3511]

Lol and I'm 25, living with my parents because I can't afford rent and people are buying up houses and leaving them empty that is so fucked

[@anastasiaafanasieva2126]

It's so surreal to hear that the funds originally allocated for severely understaffed schools or countless hospitals in need for renovation have ended up "cleaned" in a candy store in London...

[@jongkittae]

TIL y'all call police confiscated items "hauls" asdfhkljhsf side note but it's absolutely WILD to me how unseriously people act about allergen contamination like tara said y'all could LITERALLY KILL SOMEONE or even multiple someones with that behaviour wtf man that's just cruel honestly

[@dfquartzidn6151]

I mean, there was also that pink sauce lady.

[@WookieWarriorz]

in the uk consficated things arent called 'hauls' hual is just a slang way of describing having a bunch of stuff, usually used for clothes. Unlike the usa we dont have 1 word for 1 thing there can be 50 words for 1 thing that change based on the context. No one in the uk gives a fuck about allergy shit because we have significantly lower rates of peanut allergies, in murica you guys are so afriad of this shit that you cause your kids to become allergic from lack of exposure.

[@themischief420]

​@@WookieWarriorzdo you think peanut is the only thing people can be allergic to

[@lavenderleahy]

Honestly I'm pretty sure these exist in tourist places in the US, too. I went to a candy shop on a trip that was fully stocked but had very few customers. It was also connected to a t-shirt shop and cupcake shop with similar vibes. Super shady if you ask me.

[@lowwastehighmelanin]

Actually I worked at an American sweets shop in a mall. It's just like that most of the time tbh.

[@awesomepig8221]

There's a candy store in NYC with an absolutely huge space and I have never seen more than one person in it at a time. I one thousand percent think it's a front for something.

[@zenleeparadise]

​@@awesomepig8221I think I know the place you're talking about!

[@pinkrose8272]

I see a lot of candy shops in touristy areas in the US but they are usually like actual candy shops. Not selling these cheap pre-packaged stuff but homemade candies, chocolate, and caramel items. They are also way more expensive than usual but because they are homemade, it is a bit more fine. There is probably stuff like this shop in the US but I have never seen one. The real touristy money stealing type stuff is the normal souvenir shops. There are always way too many of them in one area, and usually quite empty (except for the one or two that are decent and sell original stuff) and I have no clue how they all stay open.

[@Monocultured01]

​@awesomepig8221 wait where in the city? I don't go to the touristy parts often lol

[@Maria_745]

There are actually similar stores popping up in the US. The angle is more like "nostalgic" (expired) or "rare" (imported/marked up) candies and snacks. I think money laundering is a possibility but I wouldn't be surprised if they're selling drugs too

[@friday13thirteen]

in nyc that's exactly what they're for lol, recreational weed was recently legalized here but legit licenses to sell it are extremely rare/convoluted to acquire from what i understand. so the city is becoming overrun with dubiously legal storefronts with a huge display of foreign snacks so they can register their business as a "candy store," while also being completely unsubtle about the fact that they also sell weed. there's like 3 different stores within a few blocks of me called some shit like "uncle zaza's loud emporium 24/7" with window displays that are half japanese fanta flavors and half rick and morty bongs.

[@awesomepig8221]

@@friday13thirteen Well also you don't need a license to give people weed so it's perfectly legal to sell someone something and then give them "free" weed with it. There's some people in Washington Square Park who sell "stickers with a free joint".

[@Birdie336]

You don't have to launder clean money.

[@Maria_745]

​@@friday13thirteenyeah I'm in NY but near me there are a dozen places just straight up selling it lol i see the snack thing less now that it's legal. even if they're not licensed no one is getting in trouble

[@morbidsearch]

I once bought a jar of Marshmallow Fluff from an American sweet shop and realised it was a month out of date. I know it's all just sugar anyway but still.

[@michelabenetti1472]

WE HAVE A SIMILAR THING IN ITALY! They are a buch of weird and weirdly expensive candy stores usually called "Candy Lisa" and they are pirate themed with big statues of comic characters. They are popping up in EVERY tourist city and no one knows what their deal is

[@seitanbeatsyourmeat666]

It is weirdly similar

[@waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa9739]

Wtf the overpriced candy stores where I live are also pirate themed for some reason. They sell candy in these huge barrels and even though I don't shop offline often so can't attest, personally I've never seen anybody come in there

[@michelabenetti1472]

@waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa9739 Yes, exactly, in the barrels. Every one I've seen has always had or two people maximum in it

[@gio3311]

Why, do we want to talk about Bangladeshi mini markets that you may find in Via del Corso? Or Chinese stores? And I'll not start with southern Italy weird places - like electronic cigarettes accessories that pop up everywhere. We are the capital country of money laundering, and I must say for obvious reasons.

[@rottenfiggy]

This shit I saw in Florence was more than one store?? Man what the fuck

[@j.g.9045]

Why is no one talking about how great Tara looks in this video?! She is KILLING it.

[@wen6519]

Fem youtubers get awkward when people talk about their looks on videos, because usually that's not the case for masculine KZbinrs. What I hear the fem youtubers Say is that they like to doll up, but they prefer people leaving comments about the content. Note: I agree Tara is serving looks on this video and I'm here for it. Her hair is uffff gorgeous.

[@SamuIise]

Nobody's talking about it because the it goes against the woke liberal agenda 😤

[@xm7ld]

Because we're concentrating on what she's saying

[@GangstarComputerGod]

Idk because not everyone is vapid and thinks it’s important to discuss the way strangers look. Creep.

[@adamkane7513]

If she stopped wearing make-up & silly outfits we could have equality!

[@rudelittleant3654]

visited london for a few days over the summer with my girlfriend and was immediately assaulted by how bright and bizarre the candy stores were. i'm an american, and the sweets they were advertising in the window...don't even Exist in the states. Anywhere.

[@dreamsi]

Omg not surprised but scary stuff. Also I love your profile pic I love sylvanian families and collect them. The sheep are so cute!

[@erikdaniels0n]

Me when you described these stores: this *has* to be a money laundering scheme Tara: it’s a money laundering scheme *allegedly* Me: *shocked Pikachu*

[@vaska00762]

It's a known Money Laundering Typology in Anti-Money Laundering circles. It's mostly for Cash Based Money Laundering, a front business for depositing illicit cash. Since the "Candy" tends to have expiry dates of several years, the stock is usually transferred from front business to front business. Source: I work in Anti-Money Laundering

[@1eyed_songbird]

​@@vaska00762Do you know if these stores are being investigated already or whether the social media discussion around them gives enough reason to investigate them in the future? Would be really interesting to know if things like social media have an impact on these things

[@1eyed_songbird]

​@@vaska00762oh lol nevermind the first question, I should've just watched the video first

[@vaska00762]

​@@1eyed_songbirdyeah the video is much more about Property Based Money Laundering, another typology, which is much more of an issue for estate agents and solicitors. I guess it's a very different perspective if you've actually had to do bank work as a day job. Very few people with industry experience actually go on TV to explain it all, and I guess I get it. Journalists can only do so much without having access to bank accounts or other financial information that's *typically* confidential.

[@Speakup117]

​@@vaska00762I'm very interested if you'd like to go into depth on your personal expertise.

[@WeepingPrince]

I feel very little sympathy for Westminster Council - they completely shut down any discussions on making Oxford Street car free to regenerate the area, or making any improvements on the minimal cycling infrastructure in the borough. They are also complicit in the gentrification and destruction of historic SoHo to appease the oligarchs who have recently bought flats in the area…

[@duncanluciak5516]

Just wait until they dig out all the land beneath their garden to accommodate their underground indoor pools.

[@stubbs3023]

Every time you say counterfeit wonka bars, despite knowing that Nestle owns the wonka name, I have the thought that “they are all counterfeit because Willy wonka didn’t make them” lol

[@ForeignManinaForeignLand]

I watch Tara’s videos twice; first for my edutainment and then secondly; as an asmr channel that lulls me to sleep

[@yveltalsea]

Foreign you are the most wholesome person in the world 😭 Also knowing that you know what ASMR is makes my heart happy 💕

[@chillcreep4926]

5:04 "the stupider the purchase, the more therapeutic" a few weeks back i was discussing w my therapist how i wind up spending money i should save or spend on necessities on smth stupid or entirely selfish just to feel like i have control over my spending. An actual psychological phenomenon created by poverty, i think. But yeah don't do it

[@Robstafarian]

My poverty sent me in the other direction, looking at my budget multiple times per week (even between bills) and generally feeling like any nonessential spending is a transgression. I am somewhat better now, though I still keep an extraordinarily-tight budget and do not spend money easily. I also have difficulty accepting financial help because it is difficult to believe that anyone can really spare money.

[@lunabibiane]

on small indulgences: i spent 3,50€ on a box of tea yesterday thinking i was "treating myself" as i picked it from the shelf. it kinda hit me that other people say this about idk a 300€ piece of clothing. but since that is financially so far away from what is responsible for me, my nice little peppermint tea it is 😭😭

[@Broeckchen]

I'm so glad that the cow has the time and money to go shopping a little. Good for her!

[@annat6131]

These shops that are now candy shops used to be regular souvenir shops. When i was underage me n my underage friend used to go into those shops and often got targeted and viciously cornered by those guys. At some point the men working there wanted to take us into their basement and give us alcohol and weed for free. We obviously never trusted them because we had the feeling they had the dirtiest intentions and we’d probably never see the light of day again. One of these guys at another shop publicly assaulted me and stalked me for a while. I would not be remotely surprised if they’re running human/child trafficking rings as well as money laundering !! Beware !!!

[@jsmith498]

The benefits of multiculturalism.

[@marcelusdarcy]

This happened to me aswell when I went on a achool trip to London...

[@richardhockey8442]

sounds like one of the illegal drinking dens I visited once in the 90's in Soho, trestle table set up an unoccupied house run by big burly blokes with eastern european accents selling overpriced bottles of cheap beer

[@leiblack2944]

Its like a Plague! We have (Germany, big City) like 3-4 Candy Shops next to each up... always to bright, loud and in my opinion to expensive. I truly hate them 🙃

[@elilla3583]

There is a restaurant in my Lieferando (delivery app) called Datteln Restaurant. It sells dates. Like this is the single item they have, a bunch of dates. They cost 50€. Unusually for Germany the "restaurant" is open late at night and on weekends and holidays etc.

[@leiblack2944]

@@elilla3583 that's ridiculous!

[@ameliaalastairmoon4145]

Yes, me too. They're popping up even here in Italy. Tacky, empty and overpriced "American candy shops". Definitely a money laundering scheme that impoverishes the streets for the residents.

[@niran3743]

OMG I'm seeing the same thing happening all over Europe with those stores called "Candy Lisa"? I swear they are EVERYWHERE, I spotted them in the most touristic European cities, and in the most expensive streets too. They all look the same and they are always, always, empty

[@iiiii94]

seems to only be in Italy, where did you see them?

[@niran3743]

hiiiii! this summer i've seen them in Spain and Portugal, but I can't find them on google maps so you'll have to take my word for it sorry :-/ They are quite recognizable (with that weird spiderman attached to the ceiling and everything), maybe they change the name a little bit

[@unknown-vr3dp]

rightt, i'm pretty sure i saw one in Andorra

[@baby.yogurt]

I feel like it's a bit of a weird tactic to make them all look the same, and be essentially all the same store. How obvious can you be like, If you're gonna commit a crime why be so overt about it? so weird

[@Siocpa]

@@niran3743 I'm from Madrid and I can confirm their existence. There's another person claiming to have seen them in Serbia too in a different comment section.

[@Mia-yk2is]

There are some legitimate candy shops here in Minnesota, but they’re all either specialty candies made in-house, a large company (ex lindt) or set up strategically next to Nickelodeon Universe at the mall to bank on hyperactive children dragging their parents there. Random candy resale shops, full of generic stuff you can buy at the grocery store or online, just seem strange. Like.... why? There is no reason that makes sense other than shady stuff even if being generous

[@Eibarwoman]

Same in Michigan, just mostly it's made in-house candies.

[@latristessdurera8763]

I can’t think of anything worse than eating American chocolate.

[@heysaras]

Perhaps the mass produced ones but cities have local makers that rival anything you’ll find in the world - it’s a country full of immigrants after all. They took their chocolate recipes with them.

[@rachelbrown2449]

melbourne is having the same issue, but the stores are small tobacco + american candy “convenience stores.” they’re mostly arab + chinese owned, and it’s something my friends and i have discussed heaps lately. these stores often have drg paraphernalia out on display, and we wondered if there was a legislation change or something as these things have never been allowed. if you wanted to buy a “tobacco pipe” or “whip cream charger” you used to have to go to a dodgy asian place out in the suburbs and they’d get it for you from out the back. now they’re on every block of the city, drawing as much attention as they can from such a tiny storefront with bongs just up in the window for you. it’s wild idk what’s happened

[@lyss.jonesie]

im an american who lived in london and i remember going into one of the stores because i was homesick for kraft mac n’ cheese (of all things) and then walking out because a box was like ten quid. thats when i started being suspicious

[@TheEudaemonicPlague]

I find it bizarre that "American" candy stores should be popping up in London, while in America, it's become difficult to find a candy shop (I haven't seen one in decades)...even grocery store candy sections have been shrinking to a fraction of what they used to be. And counterfeit candy is kinda weird, too.

[@joyfulgirl91]

I’ve started to see stores similar to what they show here in strip malls with a lot of empty spaces, and the word is that the parent of the strip mall is running them. Seems like a very strange choice to fill an empty space because who would buy that overpriced candy when most shopping centers are anchored with a grocery store?

[@Breakstop]

The property issue in London must be an old problem, I read some obscure book from the 19th century a while ago about a Transylvanian noble who purchased property for nefarious purposes in London...

[@witzeto150]

I heard a similar issue existed in Germany too, actually… I always seem to forget the fellow’s name, Orleck, or something similar… though people always ended up calling him something like nose-feral-to…?? I’m not quite sure… I did hear that a good fellow called Hellsing took care of the Transylvanian fellow in London that you mentioned though, so at least there’s that. I also hear that the descendant of that guy continues operation to this day!

[@duncanluciak5516]

Superstitious nonsense. I refuse to believe it. Where's my garlic?

[@nedkenny4571]

I work in hmv and I always feel so special when someone mentions it even though it’s an incredibly well known British shop with lots of history

[@MosesSuppose]

I hope you tackle the Mattress store criminal enterprise next!

[@OlhaKendzior]

Hey Tara! Hey cow! Could never imagine that I'd hear about the war in one of your videos but here we are. Just leaving a comment to say that I am a Ukrainian long-time subscriber and a hardcore fan of your videos. And thank you very much for talking about these difficult topics as well.

[@Helda_Ilweranta]

Yeee, me too, came here to write a similar comment!

[@Robstafarian]

🫂❤

[@gio3311]

❤️🫂

[@adelinaprentice4703]

My biggest takeaway is that as a US American I still have no idea what constitutes a biscuit in the UK lol. I thought they were just cookies that are crispy, like an oreo would be. But I guess there's more to it? They're all cookies over here 😅

[@steamvyrus6249]

cookies are usually the soft chocolate-chip things, everything else is a biscuit

[@username4864]

basically everything that isn't chocolate chip is a biscuit

[@adelinaprentice4703]

What is your take on Oreos? Biscuit or cookie? I would have thought biscuit 🤨

[@lowwastehighmelanin]

And biscuits are fluffy!

[@steamvyrus6249]

definitely biscuit! @@adelinaprentice4703

[@greenhowie]

Honestly Spirit Halloween has had the pop-up laundering market cornered for years. I'm shocked you don't get similar stores selling "retro games" that are just cheap repros.

[@GangstarComputerGod]

Spirit Halloween is 100% legit. You don’t know shit about anything if you’re comparing these things.

[@officialgreendalehumanbeing]

this is just like how you see this with smoke shops popping up all over nyc over the last 3 years

[@AngelMendoza-lw4en]

Can I just say , your hair looks amazing Tara ❤ you look like a literal doll 🥰

[@Karrott2cents]

I always assume American candy shops and phone accessory shops are just fronts for money laundering. Those seasonal shops give me an ick too

[@nikitatavernitilitvynova]

I don't fully remember the story but a woman died this year in Italy due to an allergic reaction. She bought a tiramisu that was labelled as vegan. There were traces of tree nuts but overall the item was vegan. She asked for the allergens and it was good to go. She ate two spoons of it and went into a shock induced coma and died. It's really risky. I might get very gassy and nauseous from a bad label. I won't die but some people could.

[@robinbennett3531]

so what was the allergen that killed her? Confused by the story..please elaborate

[@nikitatavernitilitvynova]

@@robinbennett3531 I read the story a few weeks ago and if I haven't forgotten yet she was allergic to milk and the tiramisu had traces of milk in it. Despite claiming to be fully vegan.

[@LSnicket]

Para o incrível editor brasileiro: muito obrigada pelas edições e estou super aberta a amizades verdadeira por causa dos gatos

[@Palatinik]

[@d.w.stratton4078]

I need to uncover what's going on with that *top*. Girl, it is so cute!! The cut out is everything. 😵‍💫

[@itisyerdad]

In the United States we have this same phenomenon with mattress stores and (teen/child) costume jewelry store.

[@TheRealE.B.]

I think it's generally agreed upon that the mattress stores are NOT fronts. Or at least not any more likely to be fronts than a lot of other businesses. For one thing, they're on cheap real estate on the side of the highway, not exactly the American equivalent of Oxford Street. Secondly, they have huge profit margins on relatively big-ticket items. They probably only need to sell one mattress per day to be profitable.

[@Matt_History]

​@@TheRealE.B.also people only noticed after one company bought all their competition and rebranded them all publicly so they could see which locations were best then closed the underperformers.

[@unamejames]

I think it's funny that what you're referring to as an "American Style Candy Store" is like a soulless, overpriced store that replaced the American candy stores I was fond of as a child which were... basically just American pick n mixes where you paid by the pound. My very favorite store had their candy in wooden barrels and was decorated like an old general store.

[@lonk2026]

exactlyyyyy! as an american, these aren't american style candy stores. real candy stores here are really nice and have actual soul to them. there was this one where i went all the time as a little kid, and these look nothing like that

[@xx_blo0dy.valent1ne_xx]

There’s one of these in the city near me, obviously a money laundering scheme

[@estheromoyele3321]

OMG- there’s one in my small ass town- 👀 always thought it was a little weird because no one goes in it but there’s a conspiracy

[@vaska00762]

They're front businesses for cash based money laundering. Since their stock is usually "in date" for several years, they just pass on the goods from one business to another.

[@ames-inthe-grass]

i am convinced the kebab shops and barbers in my town are fronts. there’s no reason why there’s so many in such a small vicinity. usually empty too

[@vaska00762]

@@ames-inthe-grass idk about barber shops, but kebab shops make most of their money from Uber Eats, Just Eat and Deliveroo. Honesty, takeaways are probably more than likely just evading tax by paying all their staff in cash.

[@ames-inthe-grass]

@@vaska00762 okay but like this town is smaaaalll it forreal doesn’t make sense. i’m in the uk and those companies aren’t used here those are in london and elsewhere. so it’s like odd

[@KelliCopter]

I’ve always thought there was something off about those stores! Thanks for this video from a fellow Londoner! 🫶

[@LikeTheProphet]

These shops have been popping up all over the Netherlands as well, and they feel suspicious af, so it isn’t just the UK 👀

[@evelien1152]

Yes, there are so many now on Kalverstraat and Nieuwendijk, with a pick & mix at Kruidvat for €1.19 per 100 grams right next to it! Hema and AH are also really close by with plenty of inexpensive snacks. Who in their right mind would buy at these overpriced candy stores?

[@koilamaoh4238]

Reminds me of those fake "weed" shops in legal places.. Used as a tourist distraction. I know other countries have issues with over priced market spots, mainly designed for tourists that don't know the language.

[@rattmcpossum]

As an ex homeless person that used to “work” for a LOT of London gangs + gangsters, I 100% believe they are money laundering In that community, when one of them has a “good idea” (for example, using teenagers to sell their products 🙃) ALL of the other people get in on this, and suddenly now it’s completely normal for drug dealers to recruit teens I totally know that if one of my ex-associates opened a laundering front AND it went well, all of the other people I worked for would do it STRAIGHT AWAY County lines alone is estimated to be worth £3 BILLION A DAY - easy money to buy up Oxford Street

[@loganlynn8184]

When I was studying abroad in London I was so surprised by how many of these I saw. They were around like every corner. It just seemed strange to me so I automatically assumed it was a weird money laundering thing. I stayed in Kentish Town which when I was there didn’t have any. But as soon as you got to Camden Town… there they were again.

[@elwduecentonove6080]

I really missed your serious videos! 🍄 you talk about stuff that I would have no way of getting into and it always broadens my mind. Thank you pal! 🌞✨

[@chemicallylemon]

That was the most British pov I've ever heard, a cup of tea materialized in front of me

[@robinb9359]

You're absolutely glowing in this video

[@claudiab4214]

Omg I thought I was the only one so interested in this?!?! Very excited to watch!

[@unpreparedwithacapitalf]

whenever i pass the american candy store in edinburgh i'm absolutely baffled by everything about it, so i'm excited too! i didn't know anyone else thought about this hahah

[@tinoesroho]

I'd heard an offhand mention of these in a Knowledge Fight (In London!) podcast episode, and now I'm so glad you've shone light on them. I was really really perplexed!

[@snakebbite]

omg you look SO CUTE!! everything about this look is S tier!

[@ocean7889]

Thank you for making this because I see these stores pop up all over European cities and I kept wanting to see a deep dive on them.

[@mjthomasjohansen]

Places that I very high key believe are ML Fronts- - American candy - Mattress stores - Boba tea - Hand car wash - tanning salons/massage places - gyms (non franchised) I’m part of a family business, all too familiar on what it costs to live, work and provide wages. The revenues and land spaces of each one literally don’t add up.

[@zekewalker1350]

Okay some of those(namely boba and car washes) you’re just describing the phenomenon of immigrant populations who moved to the west and thought the best way to get rich was starting a business without knowing how many US businesses fail and why. There’s a lot of subprime business loans being sold to people who, it is assumed will just work themselves to death in order to stay in the country

[@Dee-yj1im]

Never thought about gyms and boba tea places being a front for ML. Gym wouldn’t really make sense as its subscription based and if they try to launder any decent amount the government can just point out that there aren’t enough subscribers, unless they do it through justifying gym equipment buying. Last time i was in liverpool the boba places i went to were very much packed, haven’t seen many empty ones.

[@Nadia1989]

Add Chinese bazaars to the list, full of cheap counterfeit goods.

[@mjthomasjohansen]

@@Dee-yj1im I was JUST stating my opinion. In my experience boba tea shops are very quiet and I’ve worked in the fitness industry for over 6 year and come across some dodgy dealings going on within independent businesses. Third parties ‘paying for space’ and revenue on machines and equipment that doesn’t stack up. Anyway, slay.

[@mjthomasjohansen]

@@Nadia1989 oooh I’ve never thought about them! I’ve checked out some in Manchester and Bristol and they’re always super quiet for such big spots 🤔

[@ForgetfulMind]

I moved out of London after the pandemic and stopped following this story so this video was a really fun update! I’m glad to hear at least Westminster Council are trying to stop it from turning into a candy wasteland. Definitely needs to be tackled at a higher level but I look forward to Oxford Street actually being fun to browse on again

[@Tokahfang]

I was very confused by "american candy shops" in the Sydney CBD. There aren't as many as you're describing, but there are way more than the demand for american lollies!

[@AnnmareeTV]

I swear they exist as a front to sell tobacco and vape products

[@sauce1101]

I learned about this via Knowledge Fight, and I immediately looked up articles. Excited to hear your take!

[@ChristyH-B]

There's at least 2 in Reading. The first one left me annoyed as it initially opened in a unit that gap previously been a 'proper' English sweet shop and I went in thinking it had survived a rent increase. No. No it had not! I should have realised they were scams as they don't even sell decent American treats! I'd pay a fairly large amount for some of the exciting pop tart flavours that they don't sell. Plus local corner shops have a better range of American candy in amongst other delights. Turns out I have stronger feelings about these than expected!

[@spicymayo623]

Omg all the kitties in the end made me so happy❤❤❤❤ so many babies 🥰

[@hazelcrisp]

American candy stores are the new mattress shops. Always empty but still alive somehow. I did do a mini haul of American candy once. It was nice but damn it was expensive. But I did enjoy it.

[@pdg23]

your hair has been looking amazing in the past few videos. it was always great, but the curls are so awesome!!!

[@morgann5993]

This reminds me of how when I was visiting Estes park in Colorado, there were a couple of places that just felt uncanny and I’ve been wondering if they are money laundering fronts 🤣

[@riverlemay7813]

everytime u say “buhbye! buhbye now! buhbye!” it gives me LIFE ❤ idk why it just sounds so good to my ears when u say it 😂❤ love ur videos this was a smash hit as per usual

[@briannawalker4793]

It's giving big money laundering vibes, just like the THIRTY MILLION FREAKIN CAR WASHES that have mushroomed up in my small American town practically overnight 😭😭 edit: omg mom I was right do I get an unsafe counterfeit candy bar now?

[@1RandomToaster]

Ok but let me stop you there: ever notice how mattress stores appear in packs? Nothing for miles and then suddenly you can see four

[@vxicepickxv]

I'll be if you look into city/town ordinances, you'll find an obligation to "improve" a lot, and car washes are incredibly cheap compared to basically everything else. I'll bet the car washes all have subscription services, where 100 of them will make the place a profit.

[@vxicepickxv]

I'll be if you look into city/town ordinances, you'll find an obligation to "improve" a lot, and car washes are incredibly cheap compared to basically everything else. I'll bet the car washes all have subscription services, where 100 of them will make the place a profit. The math has been done.

[@vxicepickxv]

I'll be if you look into city/town ordinances, you'll find an obligation to "improve" a lot, and car washes are incredibly cheap compared to basically everything else. I'll bet the car washes all have subscription services, where 100 of them will make the place a profit.

[@cashnelson2306]

Car washes make complete sense to pop up everywhere. Pretty low cost of entry there. Mattress stores are the weird one.

[@jackjackson-ff2lu]

Whoever did the editing on this is amazing, I loved the animations

[@zimbu_]

It's not a UK-only thing. If the capitol city of a EU country has a central "old town" or some other area that's basically tourists-only, you will find many similar candy shops there nowadays.

[@itsnotmeBLEUFH-se5gn]

i went on holiday to dubrovnik in there old town there’s a candy shop and literally nobody was in there either now it just makes me wonder

[@vesperschake6241]

Omg Your shirt, hair, and makeup are all fire! Love this look for you girlie

[@93runninggiraffes]

I think the most sus thing about this whole "American Candy" store business is that it's operating in the UK... a country which arguably has the best sweets. Who in the hell would buy American candy when they could get a bag of jelly babies for a quid at the newsagents?! (I'm an American, and I approve this message).

[@vaska00762]

A newsagents? Didn't all the newspapers go paperless?

[@darkninjafirefox]

​@vaska00762 there are still newspaper stands in places like the metro

[@vaska00762]

@@darkninjafirefox the metro?

[@darkninjafirefox]

@@vaska00762 subway, underground, the tube, whatever you wanna call it

[@saturnthemirrorball]

@@vaska00762 you can still buy physical copies of newspapers here in the UK, they’re just not really bought that much by younger generations. But older generations most certainly do. You see it more in small towns & the countryside though, not sure how it is in London. Newsagents now is more of a term for like a corner shop, where you stop by to get stuff like a snack after school or milk when it’s sunday & all the big supermarkets are closed.

[@camomileparfait]

this is happening here in Hungary too! perhaps not candy stores, but “Asian” food stores which mainly consist of ramen and korean snacks on every shelf. it’s crazy how many are opening with the same exact pre-packaged junk foods and then stay empty. they’re all just called “Asian store” or “Asian flavours”.. etc

[@RandomPerson-iw3mw]

This hairstyle looks so good on u!!

[@kammyyedor4225]

When you mentioned the tourists standing on the left side of the escalator, I cackled. I live in New York City and we have the exact same problem in our subways. Especially in the major stations!

[@AamuAurora]

I've seen similar shops around Berlin. When I was told a small bag of Takis was 11€, I decided against trying this delicacy, and said I had forgotten my wallet at home.

[@vaska00762]

I've seen Takis in a Berlin Späti for €18 and thought that was daft. I went for a tube of Pringles for €3 instead.

[@grinch56]

With that kind of price I wouldn't even feel embarrased saying nevermind that's too expensive. They're the ones who should be embarrased

[@AamuAurora]

@@vaska00762 that's true! In späti next to me they have Toxic Waste gummies and candies. Once I thoughtlessly took a single little lollipop without checking the price and I was asked for 2€ XD I didn't expect this madness but apparently some small businesses are also ripping kids (and adults like me) off on less available brads.

[@miketran4289]

This is also a thing in Australia too.. It's like within a year, a crapload of these stores just popped up.. 100% money laundering fronts as they are not aimed at tourists due to the random locations in normal suburbs.

[@lolno6465]

I have seen these shops pop up here in germany too. Noone is ever in them and they're always in really expesive areas. The prices are insane. I've seen a twinkie packige for 20€ once

[@wastelanderone]

Your hair is so good here omg

[@JackiePearl]

At first, I thought your cherries tattoo was a bicycle tattoo. 🤦‍♀️ But now I kinda want a simple bicycle tattoo.

[@maynyvold1877]

I've been noticing and talking about this for such a long time after seeing a tweet pointing this out. So happy there's finally a video on this!! I even got in an argument once with an American about this because he thought I was hating on American candy and got so personally offended... If I had watched this video back then, I might have had some backup to this general trend I've noticed around, thank you Tara

[@searchingfororion]

I have *never* bought something because I didn't find out the (over)price until at the register. I *have* laughed in the face of a rude employee when they tried to bully/guilt me into doing so. FYI: I'm actually an overly nice customer on average and have even restocked items in similar situations, it's only the rude/outlandish/belittling individuals that I've done the above to.

[@emptycinema]

Truly happened to me

[@searchingfororion]

@@emptycinema Which part? Tara's example or mine? If someone gave you a hard time over the price of something where you worked as a cashier/clerk I genuinely apologize; the person who rings up your purchase has no control over what the store is charging (with rare exceptions like owner operated businesses). That's a case of killing the messenger, and not cool. The example I gave when I've exhibited this behavior was on the rare occasions when I encountered an overtly haughty, hostile, demeaning, or (for reasons I couldn't fathom) intentionally and overtly offensive person. In *those* circumstances my response to "Are you buying it or what?!" was certainly "Absolutely not. Good luck dear." I've worked a variety of service jobs, including retail, and try to be as conscientious as I can to leave *no trace* while I'm out because I'm always thinking of what it's like to have the roles reversed. That said, sometimes - no matter accommodating - you encounter a someone who *should not* have a position that involves direct interaction with people. (Worse still, they seem to revel in making misery. That is *also* not acceptable.)

[@personnenobody]

I know i'm very late here but i have just discovered your channel today and i love how they all end with animals thanks for the great content

[@themagicknightress7132]

WOAH WOAH WOAH why are the police paid double what nurses are??? Geez

[@alicemadness999]

im here for this new lively editing style

[@lilytasma5915]

I live in Melbourne Aus and the number of American Easy-Mart convenience stores that sell American lollies and cereal is astounding. I couldn’t believe it when I first moved here at the start of this year, having visited many times in the past and not seeing them. (Related to the Vape thing- these shops seem to often sell vapes even though selling vapes is technically illegal here and the police have kinda given up)

[@tegan6]

We have EzyMarts everywhere in Brisbane too! There’s three in Queen St mall alone! It’s insane!

[@Iberisnana]

we got these shops popping up where i'm from as well, usually in malls. Replaced genuinely good candy stores with reasonable prices. Most of the time these shops are empty, only full of school children at specific time of the day.

[@Aleo_Nightawake]

It's funny how even before you mentioned russians I smelled the Eastern European opportunism being Ukrainian myself 😂

[@taratareen7776]

Excellent investigative journalism

[@marcuswalters8093]

14:21 Let's be clear here; this isn't an accident here. This situation was all deliberately brought about.

[@Shhmallison]

Loving the outfit in this one. Honestly your looking great overall! Appreciate your videos have a lovely day

[@mcarter99]

In italy i once spent 2 euros on a single regular sized reeces cup lol. It was from a booth at a convention not a store. Im american and was living in italy at the time. I just really wanted my friends to try it so we split it three ways lol. You cant find them anywhere else.

[@seitanbeatsyourmeat666]

They are actually getting them in convenience stores now (still very expensive). The second downfall of Rome has begun, but this time it’s obesity rates going up I keep warning every Italian I know to stick with traditional foods, but the younger generation is full-on junk food mode… McDonald’s, trash American snacks, etc. I’ve only been here 10 years and have seen big changes in obesity rates already (they even walk around with drinks and snacks, which has only been a tourist-thing until now!) They medical field has apparently noticed too, as the hospital (at least where I live) has all main TVs showing graphics and info on healthy choices and portions Edit: my theory is, Americans have started to wise up, so candy/junk companies are branching out hard to keep those sweet, sweet billion dollar profits up. Gotta keep those stockholders happy!

[@picvegita]

You are beyond entertaining, thanks to you and the Cow for making me smile. Also your style has been extra extra sharp in your recent videos (I swear I'm here for the info and fun😅)

[@andromidius]

I've been seeing American candy in shops more recently. And I laughed when I noticed it was labelled as 'chocolate flavoured'. I'm guessing its not legally allowed to be called chocolate here.

[@greenhowie]

Honestly even Cadbury shouldn't be called "chocolate" - it has to have a certain percentage of cocoa mass officially so from a legal standpoint it should all be called "vegelate" apart from dark chocolate.

[@GangstarComputerGod]

It’s also not actually American you dimwit. I love how you assume it’s a legit shop.

[@penelopepenna6809]

So many of those in Italy too! Always empty, appearing basically overnight.