Sweet on Retro Candy at Sugarush

Fruit Stripe Gum. Necco Wafers. Pop Rocks. Bonomo Turkish Taffy. Goldenberg's Peanut Chews. Slo-Poke. Jaw Breakers. Pixie Sticks. Red Hot Dollars. Candy Cigarettes? El Bubble II Bubble Gum Cigars? Yes, candy cigars and cigarettes, too.

They're all part of good ol' sugar-laced days gone by in a candy land of nostalgia. Call them sweet memories. OK, so in an era of healthy choice-inspired eating and other habits, retro candy fits like, well, a Pixie Stick in a root canal.

Yet, the memories of something like chipping teeth on a Jaw Breaker somehow soothe like hearty chicken soup on a cold day.

The folks at Red Bank's Sugarush realize that, so even though they keep on winning awards for their special blend of cupcake sweetness, they have been bringing back retro candy, according to a post on their Facebook page.

"We asked, you answered, we purchased!" the post said. "Overwhelmingly, you all asked for more retro candy here at Sugarush, here is our first round of some old favorites and some "new" items … "

Among many popular items, like Bonomo Turkish Taffy, Goldenberg's Peanut Chews and Fruit Stripe Gum, they say they've also brought back Goo Goo Clusters and Hi-Chew.

So, let's help them out. while you check out the latest award the Sugarush people won for best cakes and cupcakes in the county and great candy from Monmouth Health and Life Magazine, let's help them out with some future retro candy stock choices.

Think back. What was your favorite classic candy? I'm thinkin' those El Bubble II Bubble Gum Cigars, banana flavored, tasted pretty darn good. So, what's a cavity compared to a great comfort memory?

Who remembers smoking a candy cigarette on Broad Street?