Closure aligns with candy maker’s 105th anniversary and new product launches
Victorville, California (High Desert News Online) – Valentine’s Day will carry a bittersweet note for local chocolate lovers as See’s Candies prepares to permanently close its longstanding shop inside the Mall of Victor Valley on February 14, 2026.
For nearly 40 years, the See’s Candies counter near the interior entrance of the former Sears location has been a staple of the shopping center, offering classic boxed chocolates and holiday confections. The closure marks the end of an era for one of the mall’s original shops, which opened the same year the retail center debuted with anchor stores Mervyn’s, JCPenney and Harris.
The company has directed loyal customers to its newer See’s Candies shop in Apple Valley’s Jess Ranch Marketplace at 18975 Bear Valley Road, Suite 5. That location began as a temporary trial store in 2019 before establishing permanent roots a year later between Pizza Guys and GNC.
End of a Sweet Chapter
The Victorville store’s final day of operation falls fittingly on Valentine’s Day, a holiday synonymous with See’s signature assortments. A printed notice inside the store thanks generations of customers for decades of patronage and community support.
While the company has not publicly shared reasons for the closure, the timing coincides with its 105th anniversary year — a milestone See’s is celebrating with new products, limited-edition packaging, and expanded retail plans across California and Arizona. Among the 2026 highlights are seasonal releases such as a milk chocolate version of its popular Scotchmallow and the return of fan-favorite promotions like “Lollypalooza” and “Dogust,” which benefits shelter animals.
Deep Roots in the High Desert
See’s Candies’ connection to the Victor Valley dates back long before the Mall of Victor Valley’s opening. In the 1960s and 1970s, local service organizations such as Altrusa International and the Kiwanis Club organized See’s Candies fundraisers across Victorville, raising money for charities while introducing residents to the iconic California brand.
At that time, the High Desert’s only access to See’s chocolates came through these community efforts. Boxes were sold at hospitals, insurance offices, small shops, and even grocery counters — long before the company established a permanent local storefront.
When the Mall of Victor Valley launched in 1986, See’s Candies brought its signature black-and-white checkered décor and timeless treats to the region, quickly becoming part of local shopping traditions. For many residents, holiday shopping trips to the mall included a stop for samples of chocolate truffles or lollipops from employees clad in white uniforms.
What’s Next for the Mall
The See’s Candies shop currently sits near the entrance of the shuttered Sears space, soon to be transformed into a ROUND1 Bowling & Arcade entertainment complex. The 78,000-square-foot venue will blend American and Japanese gaming culture, featuring bowling lanes, billiards tables, karaoke rooms, and a large arcade, according to mall officials.
Even as the mall evolves with new attractions, See’s Candies’ departure closes the book on one of its longest-serving tenants — a fixture that sweetened countless milestones, from graduations and weddings to holidays and small moments in between.
Although the Victorville store will soon darken its lights, See’s Candies continues to serve High Desert customers through its Apple Valley location and online ordering at sees.com. For longtime patrons, the transition represents both a farewell and a continuation of a tradition that began in Los Angeles more than a century ago.
