Dylan’s Candy Bar, the famous three story Midtown sweets emporium, has finally opened a second New York location right on Union Square. Dylan Lauren, the store’s CEO and daughter of fashion designer Ralph Lauren, is excited to broaden her horizons to the downtown crowd.

“People come through 14th Street and some of them don’t go up past that,” Lauren said.  “I always knew downtown was pretty much the other half of the city that I wanted to attract.”

Candy covers every nook and cranny of the new location at 33 Union Square W, even the sections of the store selling clothing and other gifts. The bright colors and metallic floor bring everything together in a fun, over-the-top way. Even their ice cream comes in flavors perfectly aligned to the character or the store, including Candy Bar Blast, which contains pieces of 17 different candy bars, and Doughnuts and Coffee, which tastes exactly how you might expect. After you get your cone, be sure to flash your NYUCard — Dylan’s offers a 15 percent student discount.

Opening a new store allowed Lauren to add products and design elements that are missing from the original location. These include a cafe that opens at 7 a.m. for breakfast, light fixtures made of rock candy and a personalization app called “Color Your World.”

“It’s kind of like an art supply store but with candy,” Lauren said.

The computer systems allows shopper to combine candies in every shade (including NYU violet) to make the perfect gift or favor for any occasion.

Lauren chose the setting for her downtown location carefully. The Decker Building, where the store is located, once housed the studio of prominent artist Andy Warhol. The loft where Warhol produced his famous silk screen prints was decorated almost completely in silver, earning the nickname “The Silver Factory.” Lauren, who majored in art history at Duke, chose to honor Warhol by painting the floor of her new store metallic silver.

There are Pop art references scattered around the store, from the large lollipops to the gigantic bunny and even the upbeat music playlist.

While it shares the bright atmosphere of the flagship store, the new Dylan’s Candy Bar has more of a neighborhood feel, partly due to the fact that it’s almost four times smaller. The store’s size perfectly balances the over-the-top decor and glittering floor Lauren’s focus on integrating the history of the building into the store’s design helps it blend into the Union Square neighborhood.

On the same theme, the store’s “Nostalgia” section remains a top attraction. If your parents have ever reminisced about a particular candy you just can’t get anymore, you’ll likely find it here.

If you’re looking for Lauren’s favorite candy, keep an eye out as you leave the store. A machine by the front door is full of what she considers an underappreciated classic: the basic gumball. Lauren loves the simplicity of the candy, as well as its pop art feel. 

“It’s so colorful and they have so many different flavors,” Lauren said. “It’s so nostalgic and yet so modern.”

Additional reporting by Kendall Levison.

A version of this article appeared in the Sept. 21 print edition. Email Isabel Wilson at [email protected].