A Cape Cod-born candy concept known for its colorful Swedish sweets is preparing to plant permanent roots in Chestnut Hill.
According to a press release, The Sweetish Fish will open its first brick-and-mortar location at 33 Boylston St, Suite 3350, inside The Street at Chestnut Hill. The open-air shopping center along Route 9 is home to a curated mix of fashion retailers, restaurants, and entertainment options.
“We’re excited to welcome The Sweetish Fish to The Street Chestnut Hill and be home to their first permanent location,” said Emmy Parsons, General Manager of The Street at Chestnut Hill. “Their service-driven approach and sense of nostalgia add a distinctive offering to our retail mix and reinforce The Street as a place for one-of-a-kind experiences.”
Founded by Cape Cod locals Savanna Vaughn and Cara Crupi-Dulmaine, The Sweetish Fish debuted as a seasonal food trailer in the summer of 2025. The founders drew inspiration from summers spent at the beach and trips to local candy shops, seeking to reimagine the penny-candy experience. With backgrounds in marketing, events, design, and public relations, they built a concept focused on “connection, discovery, and shared moments.”
In less than a year, the duo has expanded from their seasonal Cape Cod food trailer to a pop-up at The Current in Boston’s Seaport District, both of which have been highly successful, attracting fans online and in-person. Vaughn told What Now Boston that the Cape trailer is slated to reopen in April, while a return to the Seaport pop-up is possible but not yet official.
“The opening of The Sweetish Fish in Chestnut Hill is just the beginning of a longer journey for this company,” said Crupi-Dulmaine. “Every element from design to retail and full-service offerings has been thought about intentionally and we are excited to bring this new wave of a candy experience to Newton, Massachusetts.”
At its core, The Sweetish Fish is a specialty candy shop spotlighting international confections. Unlike many traditional American candies, Swedish sweets are often made with real sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup, and many varieties are vegan and gluten-free.
Described as “an experiential shopping and dining destination,” the Chestnut Hill shop will center sweets in a full-service model that encourages exploration and conversation. Customers can expect a multisensory experience where candy is just the beginning, and design elements reflect the brand’s Cape Cod roots and Scandinavian inspiration—from hand-drawn block-print wallpaper inspired by The Sweetish Fish logo to saturated pink striped details nodding to their Cape Cod truck and “summer-all-year feel.”
The upcoming location will bring the full concept to life, offering a rotating “Catch of the Day” menu with 18 international candy choices daily—over half a dozen more than at their seasonal locations. Specialty offerings will include chocolate sardines from a women-owned New England chocolate maker, among other unique treats.
Vaughn said the team is targeting an early spring 2026 opening with a celebratory in-store activation, though a precise date is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. The 510-square-foot space will serve candy “restaurant-style,” according to city permits, with hours of 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
“We’re excited to make a splash at The Street Chestnut Hill as we open our first permanent location,” shared Vaughn. “After a year operating as a seasonal food truck and popping up at The Current in Boston Seaport, this grand opening allows us to put down roots and bring the full Sweetish Fish experience to a year-round local Boston community, that we are proud to be a part of.”
