Hop Aboard the Good Ship Lollipop for Sweet Treats
by Eleanor Harte
Stepping into the Good Ship Lollipop in Oak Bluffs is like stepping into a veritable Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. The tunes piping out from the speakers are the musical equivalent of cotton candy, showcasing upbeat favorites like The Lion King and Mary Poppins soundtracks. Candy and toys in every color of the rainbow are piled in all directions. Sweet treats seem to be spilling out of every nook and cranny, and the most prevalent scent is that of the chocolate being made in the front of the store.
Marguerite Cook is the captain of the Good Ship Lollipop. Previously a tax collector for the town of Oak Bluffs, her life took a turn after her retirement. “I didn’t know what to do when I retired, but I had a bucket list, and this was on it,” Cook said of her decision to open the store. Shortly after, she discovered a picture of her mother holding a big, swirly lollipop, and she decided that she should go for it. Marguerite named the store after the famous Shirley Temple song, and her newest venture was born.
2015 marks her tenth year at the helm, and to this day her favorite part is her customers. “I love hearing people’s comments about old fashioned candy they remember from when they were younger,” she said. Cook’s store is full of Necco wafers,Mint Juleps, Bubble Tape, and other retro candies that customers recognize, as well as modern day treats. Her store is reminiscent of the penny candy stores that rarely exist anymore. “I also find the giggles from the kids to be contagious,” she added.
The most popular product sold is the handmade chocolates, which are made at the front of the store by Brenda Mastromonaco, who has been the store’s chocolatier for the past nine years. Mastromonaco’s father owned a candy store in the location where Good Ship now stands, and when he offered the space to Cook, “He loaned me his daughter Brenda too,” Cook said, smiling, “and she taught me how to make chocolate.” The pair recently added gluten-free vegan treats to their repertoire based on feedback they received from customers.
Her chocolate is so good, Cook said, that when Europeans come in claiming they have better chocolate at home, they leave admitting that they were wrong. “They try a piece and then they’re usually back that day to buy more!”
There’s no typical customer at the store, but there is a typical experience. “If they come in with a frown, they leave with a smile,” Cook said proudly.
From her store’s humble beginnings as a seasonal candy store that sold old fashioned candy and beach toys, Cook has come a very long way. She’s now open year-round, has a loyal customer base, and ships candy across the country. If you’re looking for a good piece of a candy, a box of fudge, or a sweet treat that brings you back to your childhood, look no further than the Good Ship Lollipop. And be sure to try the peanut butter chocolates, which are Cook’s favorite
