Austin's famed Big Top Candy Shop has pitched its second tent in the city's Hyde Park, promising a sugar rush for those ready to indulge. According to CBS Austin, the beloved confectioner, which has been a staple on South Congress for nearly two decades, will welcome visitors at its new outpost at 417 E. 43rd St., sitting among a cluster of local establishments including Quack’s Bakery, Julio’s, and Antonelli’s Cheese Shop.
As reported by The Austin American-Statesman, Big Top Candy Shop has received accolades as Texas' best candy shop from "Southern Living" in 2025, thanks to its eclectic blend of sweets that span the global and the nostalgic. This coming Saturday, January 31st, the doors of the Hyde Park location will open wide, inviting guests to enjoy not just a mere peek into its sugary realm, but also complimentary candy tastings, face painting for the whimsical at heart, and a variety of unforeseen treats.
The brand is famed for its quirky selection that includes international candies, old-fashioned soda floats, and off-the-beaten-path offerings like chocolate-covered bacon and the infamously odd pickle lollipops. "For years we’ve imagined the perfect location to expand operations and give the sugar fiends of Austin what they want most," Big Top founder Brandon Hodge told CBS Austin, referencing the fruition of his expansion dreams with the Hyde Park addition.
In addition to satisfying the immediate sugar cravings, the new location also has its eyes set on the future—it boasts plans to add soft serve or frozen custard to its menu, a sweet twist currently not available at the original South Congress shop. Patrons can expect to see multiple soda coolers on the scene, including a specialty root beer cooler. The grand opening this weekend seems to mark just the beginning of even sweeter expansions to come for Austin's resident candy connoisseur.
