A candy store with its own movie theater sounds like a daydream, but it is real. Somewhere in Nebraska, a red brick building hides a pinball arcade, a wall of fizzy bottles, and a diner that plays old records.
There is even a basement that turns scary every fall. I wandered through room after room and kept finding doors I had not noticed before.
Some candy on the shelves I had not seen since I was a kid. Other treats came from across the ocean.
A piano in one corner has a famous story attached to it, and a guest list includes a few very rich and very famous names. Keep reading and I will show you where to find the sweets, the games, the snacks, and the secrets, plus a few tips so you do not run out of time or quarters.
A Red Brick Giant With a Flashing Marquee
Hollywood Candy sits at 1209 Jackson Street in Omaha, Nebraska, inside the historic Old Market district. The marquee gives it away from half a block down the street.
The building is a big red brick structure known as the Fairmont Mercantile. Long before candy filled it, the site was home to Omaha’s first residence and later a hotel.
Owner Larry Richling opened the store in 2007 and wanted it to be a nostalgia center and tourist attraction. He combined a candy shop, a casual diner, and a movie theater, and an arcade joined the lineup later.
Inside, I found bright candy lining the walls and movie memorabilia glowing under soft lights. Somewhere deeper in the building, pinball machines were chiming away.
It feels like a collection of small adventures stitched together. Wait until you see how much candy is packed into the very first rooms.
Shelves Stacked With Candy From Every Decade
Remember Abba-Zaba, Slo Poke, and Sugar Daddy? They are all here, along with Valomil and Licorice Snap.
The shelves mix old favorites with modern brands like Hershey’s and Mars. Treats from Europe and the Far East sit nearby, so a candy hunt turns into a world tour.
Hollywood Candy also makes sweets in-house. Ten flavors of creamy fudge are crafted on site, and the Peanut Butter Surprises are a signature treat.
The bulk candy section lets you build your own bag. Jelly Belly beans, rock candy, saltwater taffy, and gummies fill the walls.
The store says it has the biggest Jelly Belly flavor selection in Nebraska. A big Pez dispenser display adds even more color.
Check dates on packages and prices on bulk items, since a bag can add up fast. Next up is a wall of bottles that might hurt your decision-making.
Over 150 Sodas Waiting in the Cooler
One wall of glass bottles had me standing still for a solid five minutes. The store carries well over 150 sodas, and some count closer to 200.
Classic root beers and cream sodas sit beside wild fruit flavors and imports. A few labels looked like they had not been on a shelf in decades.
Choosing is half the fun. Staff members are happy to point out favorites or share a story about a rare bottle.
Here is a tip for a smart haul. Pick a few flavors you have never heard of, then chill them at home and rate them with friends.
The soda selection fits the store’s throwback theme perfectly. Every cold bottle feels like a trip to an old soda fountain.
Once your arms are full of bottles, follow the chimes. The pinball room is calling.
Pinball Machines Lighting Up the Back Rooms
Bells, buzzers, and flashing lights lead the way to Hollywood Pinball and Arcade. More than 60 working pinball machines fill the space, which makes it one of the largest pinball arcades in the Midwest.
Classic arcade cabinets from the 1980s and earlier sit among them. Older electro-mechanical games share the floor with newer dot matrix machines.
The collection began when someone from the store bought a big group of machines from an arcade technician in Plattsmouth, Nebraska. It has grown a lot since then.
Bring quarters, since the games take coins. A few machines may need a little care, but that adds to the old-school charm.
Even if you do not play, the backglass art is worth a look. Each machine tells its own story with bold colors and wild illustrations.
After a few rounds, I wanted a seat and some popcorn. Luckily there is a cinema nearby.
A Cozy Movie Theater Tucked Inside
Most candy stores do not come with a cinema, but this one does. The Hollywood Theater is small and cozy, more like a private screening room than a big multiplex.
The store regularly shows free movies for visitors. Catching a film after a candy haul feels like a lucky accident.
The room seats up to 45 guests. It has an HD projector, Dolby 5.1 surround sound, and a 120-inch screen.
It also works for private events such as birthday parties and company gatherings. Guests can even bring their own DVD or video to play.
A concession stand offers popcorn and other snacks, so the full movie experience is covered. Call ahead or check the website for what is playing and for booking details.
Hungry for something heartier than popcorn? A 1950s diner is next.
A 1950s Diner Serving Shakes and Surprises
Checkered floors, red stools, and a jukebox set the scene at the Fairmont Diner. I slid into a booth and felt like I had joined a classic musical.
The menu leans on comfort food with an American Dream theme. Burgers, bratwurst, and crispy fries cover the savory side.
Sweet treats shine here. Thick shakes, old-fashioned sundaes, banana splits, and ice cream scoops are all on offer.
Pizzas come from Omaha’s own Orsi’s Bakery, which adds a local touch. Homemade chocolates include a surprising chocolate-covered bacon.
Hours can vary, and one visitor found the diner closed, so check before planning a meal around it. Snow cones and fun drinks have also been popular.
With a full stomach, I was ready to hunt for treasure. The next section has some truly odd finds.
Lunch Boxes, Records, and Rubber Ducks
Hollywood Candy becomes increasingly difficult to describe once you wander beyond the food. At some point, “candy store” stops being enough and “collection of things somebody thought were cool” becomes more accurate.
Movie memorabilia and curiosities appear throughout the building.
Vintage objects, character displays, photographs, entertainment artifacts, and odd collectibles reward anyone willing to inspect corners rather than walking directly between candy and checkout.
Music fans get an entire destination.
Vinyl Vibes is Hollywood Candy’s in-house record shop, stocked from a vault containing nearly 40,000 albums. New selections are regularly moved into the browsing area, so repeat visits can uncover different records.
Then there is the famous piano.
Hollywood Candy says it loaned the instrument through a contact associated with the Omaha Community Playhouse without initially knowing its destination. After it returned unusually dirty and dusty, the store learned it had been used during production of Lady Gaga’s “Yoü and I” video, filmed in Nebraska.
That is exactly the kind of story that belongs here.
Nothing seems completely unrelated because the whole building runs on nostalgia and surprise.
A record can lead to a movie prop.
A movie prop can lead to an arcade.
And if you visit during fall, another doorway leads somewhere much darker.
The basement has its own personality.
In October, it wants to scare you.
A Walk of Fame Inside the Store
Big names have wandered these aisles. The store keeps a Walk of Fame to celebrate its famous guests.
Singers Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga are on the list. Film director Alexander Payne and Zak Bagans of Ghost Adventures have stopped in as well.
In 2018, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett visited and took a stroll down memory lane. Their visit is a point of pride on the store’s front signage.
The Lady Gaga link comes from that piano. A friend rented it for a local playhouse show, and it later turned out to have appeared in one of her music video shoots near Omaha.
You do not need to be famous to enjoy the place. Everyday visitors get the same candy, games, and photo spots.
Ready to plan your own trip? A few practical tips come next.
Smart Tips Before You Go
Hollywood Candy is currently open seven days a week, but the schedule has changed from the one in the original article.
Sunday through Thursday hours are 11 a.m.–9 p.m., while Friday and Saturday run from 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
The address is 1209 Jackson Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68102, and the phone number is 402-346-9746.
Give yourself at least an hour.
Anyone interested in pinball, records, memorabilia, the diner, and candy could easily spend considerably longer because the attraction keeps unfolding into additional rooms.
Bring quarters if you plan to play.
Most of the pinball and vintage arcade games operate with coins, preserving an appropriately old-school experience.
Browsing the store itself does not require attraction admission.
Your spending depends on how successfully you resist candy, records, soda, food, arcade games, and whatever strange collectible catches your eye.
During September and October, remember that Dungeon of the Damned is separately ticketed.
The theater also has its own rental rates for private events.
Parking deserves planning because Hollywood Candy sits in the busy Old Market rather than beside a suburban parking lot.
Downtown Omaha offers metered street spaces and public parking facilities, so check posted signs and current Park Omaha rules rather than relying on an old parking schedule.
Most importantly, do not rush.
This is one of those stores where the strange side room you almost skip may contain the thing you remember most.
And when you finally step outside, the surrounding neighborhood gives you plenty of reasons to keep walking.
Cobblestone Streets Just Outside the Door
The Old Market is the perfect partner for a candy-fueled day. Cobblestone streets and 19th-century buildings set a charming scene.
Independent shops, galleries, cafes, and restaurants line the blocks. Horse-drawn carriage rides are a common sight, especially seasonally near 11th and Howard streets.
Other Omaha attractions are close by. The Kiewit Luminarium and the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium make great add-ons for a full day.
The nearby RiverFront has three parks: Gene Leahy Mall, Heartland of America Park, and Lewis and Clark Landing. They are good spots for a stroll or a picnic with your candy haul.
I found that the neighborhood made the visit feel like a trip through time. Old brick and bright sweets suit each other well.
By the end, I left with a bag of sweets and a new respect for Omaha. Hollywood Candy proves that a surprise can hide behind a red brick wall, and the best part is how much of it you can explore for free.
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