15 Of The Oldest Candy Stores In America
From sugar wafers to chocolate bars to conversation hearts and licorice, candies' rush of sweetness has enamored Americans for centuries. They've even become a symbol of love and care, exchanged during holidays like Valentine's Day and Easter. And nostalgic candy can bring back childhood memories and carefree times like nothing else.
But candy is a robust cornerstone of American business, too. As the National Confectioners Association points out, confectionery retail sales rake in $54 billion per year and create almost 700,000 jobs in the United States. While some of these stats can be attributed to large manufacturers, there are also plenty of small family-run businesses that still make candy the old-fashioned way — and have been doing so for decades.
These candy stores scattered across the United States are perfect examples. They effortlessly transport visitors into the past — because they are all more than 100 years old. As early pioneers, they changed the face of American candy stores, and they're still thriving today.
1. Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie
In business since 1806, Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie is now owned by its fourth generation of candy makers. Its flagship location in Salem, Massachusetts, cranks out classics like Black Jacks and the famous Gibralters (available in lemon and peppermint flavors, they're touted as the first commercially sold candies in America), all still made by hand.
According to company history, Mary Spencer sold her Salem Gibralters back in the early 1800s, peddling her candies from a local church's steps in Salem. Black Jacks, on the other hand, were created by John Pepper, a friend of the family who wanted to make a "more masculine" candy to counter the "ladylike" options of the time. Both of these classic recipes were purchased with the store (then called the George W. Pepper Companie) around the turn of the 20th century by George Burkinshaw. He'd worked at the establishment from boyhood, sweeping the floors and helping out with other odd jobs, eventually assisting with candy making and then finally purchasing the business. His family has now passed it down for three generations. Today, the business has branched out into a second location, in North Andover, Massachusetts, as well as a wholesale operation and an online retail store.
(978) 745-2744
122 Derby St, Salem, MA 01970
2. Shane Confectionery
Established in 1863, this Philadelphia candy store's claim to fame is that it's America's oldest continuously operating confectionery, still making "artisanal candy and ethical chocolate" in the style of its original founders. Shane Confectionery owners emphasize that they strive to keep tradition alive with products like its beloved buttercreams, made using the same Shane family recipe for 100-plus years, and on the same machine that has been used for more than century. The business also incorporates seasonal and local ingredients, makes products in small batches by hand, and even produces its own chocolate from raw, responsibly sourced cacao beans. In other words, this legendary candy company proves that old-time techniques can go hand in hand with meeting modern-day demands like environmental sustainability.
The owners are clearly evolving with the times and having fun, too — in recent years, Philadelphia Magazine reports, the business has offered Halloween-themed boxes based on hauntings and other ghoulish lore around the City of Brotherly Love. And it offers private workshops and tastings for groups, as well as private parties in a memorable setting, the "Cacao Pod," where the bean roasting takes place in a historic four-story brick building that has hosted confectionery operations since the 1850s.
(215) 922-1048
110 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
3. Schimpff's
Schimpff's roots stretch back to 1871, when Charles Schimpff opened the first Schimpff confectionery in Jeffersonville, Indiana, in 1871. But it was Gustav "Gus" Schimpff Sr. and his son Gus Jr. who opened the confectionery at 347 Spring Street in Jeffersonville — the same location the store operates in today, since 1891. After moving through multiple generations, the owners of this Midwestern candy mecca passed the torch to current sixth-generation owners Steve Shepherd and Beth Shepherd, who carry on its time-honored traditions.
Located in historic downtown Jeffersonville, the candy store is known for its 1950s soda fountain vibe (think old-school tin ceiling, candy jars, glass cases, and turn-of-the-century candy equipment). Meanwhile, Schimpff's is so entrenched in American history that it's featured as part of the Lewis & Clark Trail Experience, which calls out its most notable confections: Red Hots, hard candy fish, Modjeskas (marshmallow dipped in caramel), and turtle candies (pecan caramels topped with chocolate).
(812) 283-8367
347 Spring St, Jeffersonville, IN 47130
4. Wittich's Candy Shop
Wittich's Candy Shop claims to be the nation's oldest family owned and operated confectionery, as founder G.F. Wittich established this candy wonderland in 1840. Today, the business is now more than 185 years old and has been run by four generations of Wittich family members. It's known for goodies like hand-dipped chocolate candy, molded candies, and nut brittles, but Wittich's especially touts its Ohio specialty, Buckeyes. They're an indulgent favorite across the Buckeye state, but Wittich's notes it's the only candy maker to completely coat the peanut butter center in chocolate (choose from milk, dark, or white) for added freshness.
However, this historic store wasn't always just a candy peddler. The company actually started as a general store, selling items like flea powder, but Wittich soon started making hard stick candies before branching out into chocolates. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the sweets ended up being more in demand than anti-flea remedies. The store now features a historic soda fountain and even sells DIY candy making supplies for those who want to attempt their own candy craftsmanship at home.
(740) 474-3313
117 W High St, Circleville, OH 43113
5. Orne's Candy Store
Orne's Candy Store lore explains that it started as a female-run business when it opened on July 4, 1885, in downtown Boothbay Harbor, on the coast of Maine. Owner Addie Orne stocked her shop with ice cream, bananas, and a variety of candies. In 1960, Wollcott Webster purchased the store, intending to "preserve the atmosphere of an old-fashioned 19th century candy shop" while making now-popular additions like handmade fudge and chocolates displayed in the store's antique glass and wooden cases.
Today, Orne's is now run by the Webster family (who took over in 1978), and it's known as the "sweetest tradition in the Harbor," according to the Boothbay Register, even hosting an annual rock skipping competition. Fittingly, this sweets shop takes plenty of inspiration from the area's coastal locale, with candy specialties like Gravel (also called Magic Rocks — milk chocolate inside a small candy "stone"), Pebbles (a hard candy coating around a "softer surprise"), and Rock Candy, sold on a stick or a string, in every color of the rainbow.
(207) 633-2695
11 Commercial St, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538
6. Doscher's Candy
While the exact original invention of candy canes is up for debate, Claus Doscher, founder of Doscher's Candy, claims to have created Cincinnati's first handcrafted candy cane back in 1871, when the shop opened. His proprietary handmade process — still used today — incorporated real peppermint oil, and he cooked the treats in small batches in copper kettles, creating an end result that the company calls "perfectly chewy and airy" and "a one-of-a-kind piece of confectionery art."
Today, this longstanding candy shop is also known for its Handmade Peppermint Pieces, Butter Mints, Candy Buttons, and, of course, candy canes in a rainbow of colors, including a Hanukkah collection. In addition to its online shop, the physical store in Cincinnati now hosts a curated collection of seasonal goods designed to bring a fun and festive vibe home, from candy-themed items to children's gifts. The store focuses on featuring handcrafted, locally-made, and Cincinnati artists' products, so customers can pick up gifts that give back to the community, along with some sweet treats.
(513) 381-8656
6926 Main St, Cincinnati, OH 45244
7. Chutter General Store
Opened in the late 1800s and still going strong, Littleton, New Hampshire's Chutter General Store is now a bona fide piece of American candy store history, in more ways than one. That's because it's not just one of the oldest candy stores, but the largest — at least in terms of the length of its candy counter. At 111 feet, 11 inches, it nabbed a Guinness World Record for this feat, which draws in candy lovers as well as World Record enthusiasts.
This New England institution has been a mainstay on Littleton's charming historic Main Street for over 100 years, and it's still considered a destination for its famous fudge, plus must-have goodie bags and party favors for gatherings. The store is named after its original owner, Frederick George Chutter.
Today, the counter promises more than 500 types of candy to choose from, ensuring that customers of all ages can feel like a literal kid in a candy store again as they browse Chutter General Store's mega-size selection of sweets. Need more? Check out Chutters' second location in Lincoln, New Hampshire, just south of the original.
(603) 444-5787
43 Main St, Littleton, NH 03561
8. Lammes Candies
A true Texas original, Lammes Candies has been serving up goodies since 1885. First known for selling ice cream and the Gem, a frozen fruit dessert made from whole milk (similar to sherbet), it really made waves in 1892 when it introduced the Texas Chewie Pecan Praline, still a best seller today. Its outpost on Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas, was a hot spot for these iconic goodies for decades.
Sadly, the historic company made headlines (and broke hearts) when it announced it was closing in April 2026. But People magazine reported just a few months later, in September 2026, that new owners announced plans to revive it. For now, the owners are taking orders through the company's website and plans to re-emerge in Texas retailers as it figures out whether to offer a dedicated brick-and-mortar outlet again.
Interestingly, Lammes Candies is no stranger to close calls. It was once famously lost in a poker game by the original founder, William Wirt Lamme (the shop was then called Red Front Candy Factory, opened in 1878). But it was quickly rescued by his son, David Turner Lamme, Sr., and reopened as Lammes Candies in 1885.
9. Marini's Candies
Made in Santa Cruz, California, since 1915, Marini's Candies is widely regarded as one of the best candy stores in the nation. Follow this guide to chocolate tasting to start your own competition.
Marini's original claim to fame was its saltwater taffy, still sold today along with hand dipped nut clusters and caramels, caramel pecan patties, homemade fudge, caramel apples, and a variety of candies from around the world. Its founder, Victor Marini, was a barbershop owner who turned his purchase of a popcorn stand into a four-generation candy business, and his descendants carry on those traditions today.
Marini's has two locations to serve customers in Santa Cruz, including one on the Municipal Wharf, which has its own claim to fame as the longest wooden pier in the United States — an ideal spot for eating sweets while attempting a sighting of whales, dolphins, sea lions, or sea otters.
(831) 425-7341
55 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
10. Claeys Candy
With the tagline "Making life a little bit sweeter since 1919," Claeys Candy had humble beginnings: Its founder, Jerome C. Claeys, started his candy making business in a garage in South Bend, Indiana. Today, it's still run by the same family — his grandson, Gregg Claeys, is the current president. But the Indianapolis Business Journal notes that the business has grown significantly over the years from those modest roots: Its latest facility, opened in 2022, is a 50,000-square-foot building that is twice as large as its previous factory.
Claeys has contributed several innovations to the candy landscape. Its first item made was the Etabar, a caramel nut bar covered with icing (originally sold for $0.05). Later, a popular Christmastime treat emerged, and it's still sold today: the Chocolate Charlie (originally called Charlie Chaplin), which is made of marshmallow and peanuts covered with chocolate. The candy manufacturer also sells beloved classics such as old-fashioned fudge, peanut brittle, and hard candies.
(574) 287-1818
5229 Nimtz Pkwy, South Bend, IN 46628
11. Canelake's Candies
Open since 1905, Canelake's Candies in Virginia, Minnesota, was the brainchild of brothers Christ, Gust, Tom, and Nick Canelake, and today the third generation of family members is overseeing operations. This family-run business has been hailed by local radio station WJON as "one of Minnesota's top artisanal candy boutiques." It sells sweets through its brick-and-mortar location and also ships nationwide, but only during the winter months (because no one likes a melted chocolate mess arriving in the mail).
But, as Canelake's owners point out, this outpost is more than just Minnesota's oldest candy store—it offers up an old-fashioned soda fountain, local and handcrafted American goods like Minnetonka Moccasins and Folkmanis Puppets, a candy museum, and memorabilia from the Iron Range of Minnesota. Unique hard candies — think Root Beer Fish and Pickle Hard Candy — are available alongside its beloved chocolates, candy apples, and licorice.
(218) 741-1557
414 Chestnut St, Virginia, MN 55792
12. Dunmore Candy Kitchen
Candy corn's name hearkens back to America's agricultural history, but the beloved Halloween candy takes a fun gummy form at this Northeast Pennsylvania institution, in business since 1904. Dunmore Candy Kitchen also offers chocolates and a bevy of other sweet treats at its two in-person locations in Dunmore (the original, hence the name), and Moosic, Pennsylvania, as well as on its online shop. One of the many standouts of the business is its impressive selection of molded and figures candies, from text-stamped squares sharing holiday wishes to chocolate alligators and army tanks. You can find almost any candy here.
For customers who want to try their hand at making their own designs, the company even provides custom candy wrappers and mold designs. And the old-time company even started an entire fundraising arm to give back to the local community through its now-legendary candies.
(570) 207-4526
206 E Drinker St, Dunmore, PA 18512
13. Josh Early Candies
Now with two locations in Bethlehem and Allentown, Pennsylvania, the history of Josh Early Candies reaches back to 1904, when founder J. Mark Early (known as Josh Early III) started a wholesale candy business with a partner. A retail business followed. Later, his son, Josh Early IV, with wife Millie, opened Early's Old Fashioned Chocolates in Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1938.
CBS News Philadelphia grabbed a behind-the-scenes look at this fifth-generation business, owned today by a sister-brother duo, calling it a "Lehigh Valley staple." Customer favorites include Peanut Rolled Eggs (vanilla butter cream wrapped in milk and dark chocolate, rolled in ground peanuts), Caramel Marshmallow Bars, and Assorted Chocolates boxes stuffed with a variety of Creams, Caramels, Nougats, and Chews. The candies have been crafted by-hand for five generations now using the same recipes from the early 1900s.
(610) 395-4321
4640 W Tilghman St, Allentown, PA 18104
14. Laura's Candies
Laura's Candies has been churning out sweets since 1913 in New Orleans' French Quarter and now has a second outpost in Metairie, Louisiana, west of The Big Easy. While the original owner sold only fudge and pies when it opened, the company has now branched out into selling gourmet products like pralines, chocolates, truffles, and even spicier selections, like Louisiana Hot Sauce and Chocolate Body Frosting.
Owner Brian Boehm took the reins of the company in 2008, but he still carries on the made-by-hand process that started more than 100 years ago. He favors down-home Southern traditions like preparing pralines fresh daily. The tried-and-true approach seems to be working well, as Laura's Candies' fudge and other classics are still a hit with customers today. Plus, purchasing premade is a much easier option than making your own homemade fudge.
(504) 582-9651
224 Severn Ave, Metairie, LA 70001
15. The Candy Kitchen
In Wilton, Iowa, The Candy Kitchen was established in 1860 as a confectionery but was later upgraded to encompass a restaurant, soda fountain, and ice cream parlor before the turn of the century. In 1990, the Nopoulos family bought the business and ran it until 2015, when sisters Lynn and Brenda Ochiltree took over. Through multiple generations, The Candy Kitchen still serves up food, drinks, and ice cream in an old-school soda fountain setting.
But this store offers sweets with a side of history. For those who can't make the in-person trip, the candy depot hosts a virtual museum where visitors can browse historic memorabilia from the archives (also displayed onsite in the shop). The collections of the Candy Kitchen and Lynn Ochiltree are estimated to include more than 100,000 artifacts and documents from the surrounding Muscatine County, focusing on the Moscow and Wilton, Iowa, communities. The Candy Kitchen also offers a store stocked with unique items, antiques, and soy candles locally made by hand, making it a one-stop shop for gifts and goodies.
(563) 732-2278
310 Cedar St, Wilton, IA 52778