A roadside favorite in Minnesota is now at the center of a criminal case. The owner of Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store has been charged over allegations that liquor-filled candy was sold without the proper license.
What authorities say happened
Robert Wagner, 66, of Belle Plaine, was charged in Scott County court last month with one gross misdemeanor count of selling liquor without a license or permit. The charge focuses on Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store, the bright yellow landmark along U.S. Highway 169 between Jordan and Belle Plaine, southwest of the Twin Cities.
According to the criminal complaint, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division received an anonymous tip during the summer. The tip alleged the store was selling alcohol-filled candy and had sold some to a minor child without checking ID.
In late July, agents carried out an undercover operation at the store. Investigators said they found a section dedicated to candy containing alcohol, and some packaging reportedly stated that selling the products to underage buyers was unlawful.
The candy products at the center of the case
Agents allegedly bought several items during the late-July operation, and the complaint lists specific alcohol levels. Among them were chocolate-covered brandy cherries with a 7.3 percent concentration of brandy and chocolates with a whiskey syrup center containing 3.58 percent alcohol by volume.
Those details matter because investigators say the store did not hold a license to sell alcoholic beverages. Authorities also allegedly observed that there was no separate purchase process for candy containing alcohol compared with regular candy sold elsewhere in the store.
A few hours after the undercover purchase, agents executed a search warrant at the business. During that search, Wagner allegedly told agents that the store did not have a license, that he knew the liquor-filled candy was in stock, and that he believed the store could sell it.
Why the case could draw wider attention
This case stands out because Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store is not a small, unknown shop. The store is a familiar stop for travelers heading between the Twin Cities and Mankato, and its location near Jordan has made it one of the state’s better-known seasonal retail destinations.
Even so, the legal issue in Scott County is narrow and specific. Prosecutors are not broadly accusing the store of selling standard candy illegally. The charge is tied to whether liquor-filled candy counted as alcohol sales under state rules and whether a license or permit was required.
Wagner was charged by summons and is scheduled to make his initial court appearance in December. Until that hearing happens, the complaint lays out the state’s allegations, but the court process will determine what happens next in the case.
