On an ordinary afternoon in Ocean Shores, Washington, candy shop owner Jennifer Strobel was restocking the shelves of Buddy & Howie’s Candy Store when something unusual caught her eye outside the window.
A curious figure was walking straight down the street — and heading right toward her door.
“He was walking down the street and wandered right up to our front door,” Strobel told The Dodo. “He poked his head in. My first reaction was surprise: ‘Wow!’”
Her surprise only grew when she realized this wasn’t a customer looking for fudge or caramel corn.
It was a deer.
The young buck stopped in front of the store, peering inside at the bright colors and sweet smells filling the air. Clearly intrigued, he stood there for a moment, as if deciding which flavor to try first.
But then, to Strobel’s astonishment — he stepped right inside.
“I told him, ‘No, no,’ because, although I love deer, I didn’t want him to come in and get spooked,” she said. “But he didn’t listen. He walked right in anyway.”
There he was: a deer in a candy shop. Here’s footage of the deer browsing for sweets:
The visitor took a few tentative steps past the door and began sniffing around. Strobel watched in disbelief as he seemed particularly interested in one display.
“He was definitely drawn to the saltwater taffy,” she said with a laugh. “In the video, it even looks like he snatched a piece of buttered popcorn taffy!”
Trying to stay calm, Strobel gently ushered the deer back toward the door — and after a few more curious glances, he turned and trotted out, as quietly as he’d arrived.
Luckily, the sweet-toothed visitor didn’t cause any damage.
“He didn’t leave any mess!” Strobel said. “That’s the best part. [Though] I am worried he might tell all his friends where the best taffy in town is!”
The whole experience lasted just a few minutes, but Strobel said she’ll never forget it.
“It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime moment,” she said. “I guess everyone — even deer — can appreciate a good candy store.”
