Lil Sweet Treat, a rapidly expanding candy shop known for its colorful selection of sweets from around the world, is opening its first Maryland location at Bethesda Row.
The shop will take over the former Luke’s Lobster space at 7129 Bethesda Lane. Luke’s Lobster recently closed the Bethesda restaurant permanently after nearly 15 years in business. It opened in 2012 in the space previously occupied by Cacao chocolate store.
Lil Sweet Treat specializes in pick-and-mix candy, offering more than 350 varieties sourced from countries including Sweden, Spain, Germany, Belgium, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands. Selections rotate regularly and include gummies, sour candies and other sweets, along with options that are dye-free, gelatin-free and gluten-free.
The company also produces some of its own candy, including Shirley Temple gummies and blue raspberry coconut sips, and its stores typically offer merchandise specific to the cities and markets they enter.
Lil Sweet Treat was founded in New York City in 2024 by Elly Ross and her husband, Jack Ross. Elly Ross, who was born in South Korea and grew up in Los Angeles, was pursuing a career in tech before a “For Lease” sign at a West Village storefront helped inspire her to turn a longtime interest in candy into a business.
Since opening its first location, Lil Sweet Treat has expanded to markets including Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Boston and Chicago while building a large following on social media.
