Lynden's Soda Fountain busted for selling candy cigarettes

By Emily Weiss Wed., Dec. 26 2012 at 9:02 AM

Categories: News

E Katie Holm

Does this look like the site of a bust?

The charming and authentic Lynden's Soda Fountain in St. Paul's Highland Park area announced via Twitter that it will no longer be stocking their retro sweets shelves with candy cigars or cigarettes. Apparently there is a hard and fast legal reason that you rarely see them sold at gas stations, sweets shops, or anywhere in the city of St. Paul these days.

See also:

Lynden's in St. Paul revives the old-fashioned soda shop

We will no longer carry candy or bubblegum cigars or cigarettes.We got busted yesterday by the City of St. Paul. Oops.
-- Lynden's (@LyndensSoda) December 20, 2012

We found out It was really more of a slap on the wrist than a bust when we reached out to owner John Lynden to find out what exactly went down. Lynden writes: "The DSI (Department of Safety and Inspections) inspector came in and had us pull the inventory from the shelves and gave a copy of the ordinance which we were not aware of. No fine - they just sent us a warning."

The city passed an ordinance in 2009, championed by a group of St. Paul teens, that banned the sale of "imitation tobacco products" and "novelty lighters" or any similar products that seem aimed at children.

Lynden's decision to carry the candy smokes and cigars was based on the owners' shared love of retro candy and a desire to create an air of authenticity and nostalgia in the old-fashioned soda shop, but the owners willingly removed them following their run-in with the city of St. Paul.

Location Info

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Lynden's Soda Fountain

490 Hamline Ave. S., St Paul, MN

Category: Restaurant

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Denise Boiselle Arambadjis

I used to get those candy cigarettes and one end was colored red. I think to designate as the lit end. I used to insist that was the end to smoke,because all our mom's cigarettes were red on the filter end from their lipstick. Made total sense to all the other kids. Never did take up cigarettes.

Michael Flowers

I thought they tasted like chalk. There was much better candy.

Emily Summers Leabch

I saw those there a few months ago and cracked up! It was wonderful nostalgia - I used to get those all the time and I did not grow up to smoke. Get the hell over it people!

Charles D. Rhoden III

I get the point of the ordinance though it now seems as antiquated as the culture that "encouraged" smoking through the use of candy cigarettes. Guess you'll have to go to the Candy Shop in Jordan, MN if you want candy cigarettes.