There is a candy in Ohio that carries the name of the state itself, and getting it fresh from the place that makes it changes everything. Tucked away on the west side of Columbus sits a working chocolate factory where you can watch treats being made through glass walkways, then wander a shop stacked with more sweets than you can count.
The tour costs only a few dollars, and you often earn most of it back on your way out. Families, out-of-town guests, and lifelong locals all end up here for the same reason.
What follows is a full look at the factory, the famous buckeye candy, the tour, and everything worth knowing before you plan your trip.
Where To Find This Sweet Columbus Landmark
West Columbus holds a treat-making operation that has become something of a local rite of passage. Anthony-Thomas Candy Shoppes sits at 1777 Arlingate Ln, Columbus, OH 43228, in the United States, easy to reach and simple to spot once you know the street.
The building serves as both a working factory and a retail shop, which means you can watch candy being made and then buy it steps away. That combination is a big part of why people keep coming back.
It has earned a 4.7-star standing across more than 430 pieces of feedback, a number that speaks to how consistent the experience tends to be. Regulars describe it as a reliable stop whenever they crave quality chocolate.
Some folks travel here after years away, treating a visit as a way to reconnect with a taste they grew up with. Others discover it for the first time and wonder why they waited so long.
Either way, the address is worth saving for your next Columbus outing.
A Family Name Passed Down Through Generations
Long roots give this place a story that guides love to tell. Guides here walk you through the history of the founding family and how the business has stayed within that family across the years.
That sense of tradition comes through during the tour, where the passion for chocolate is described as something handed down rather than just manufactured. People notice the care that goes into the products, and that care ties directly back to the family behind them.
Guides also cover the broader history of chocolate making itself, so you leave knowing more than you did when you arrived. It becomes part lesson, part celebration of a homegrown brand.
Folks who grew up in Columbus often mention being familiar with the name for decades before ever setting foot in the factory. When they finally do, the connection between the brand and its history clicks into place.
The result is a visit that feels rooted in something real, a rare quality for a candy company that has managed to keep its identity intact.
The Buckeye Candy That Started The Buzz
Ohio has a candy named after the state, and this is the spot to try it done right. The chocolate buckeye is an iconic treat here, and people who taste it walk away calling it delicious.
What makes it special is the setting. Buying a buckeye at the same place it is crafted turns a simple candy into a small event, one that regulars specifically recommend to anyone stopping by.
The candy shows up again and again in conversations about the shop, listed among the favorites that keep drawing repeat trips. For many, it is the reason they came in the first place.
Some longtime fans say the buckeyes here have become their preferred choice over the bigger, more familiar brands. That kind of loyalty says plenty about the product.
If you have only ever had a grocery-store version, the factory-fresh one is worth the drive. It is the treat that lends this whole place its reputation.
Glass Walkways Above The Candy Floor
Watching sweets come to life is the heart of the whole trip. The tour takes you up an elevator to glass-enclosed walkways that let you look down onto the manufacturing floor below.
From that vantage point you can see the processes in motion, following how raw ingredients become finished chocolate. People find the whole thing genuinely fascinating, especially the parts they never thought about before.
During busy seasons, the floor might be running special products, and watching how those get made and packed leaves a lasting impression. It answers questions you did not even know you had.
Cameras are not allowed on the manufacturing floor for practical reasons, and most folks are fine with that. The view itself is the reward.
Workers below sometimes glance up and wave at the walkway crowd, a small touch that makes the experience feel warm rather than clinical. The setup is described as both cool and accessible, easy for nearly anyone to enjoy.
A Tour That Costs Less Than Your Coffee
Affordable barely covers how cheap this outing runs. The factory tour is priced at around $4 for adults and $2 for kids, which people call very reasonable for what you get.
Here is the clever part. You receive a coupon at the end worth $2 per ticket, redeemable in the gift shop, so buying anything on the way out essentially returns the cost of admission.
Tours last roughly 30 minutes to an hour, offered every hour during operating days. That flexibility makes it easy to fit into a morning or afternoon plan.
Larger groups can book online, while smaller parties of fewer than four people are advised to call ahead instead. Reservations help ensure a smooth visit.
For families hunting a quick and inexpensive activity, few things compete. You learn something, you see something interesting, and you leave with chocolate, all for the price of pocket change.
Guides Who Know Every Sweet Detail
A great guide can turn a good tour into a memorable one. Here, the people leading groups are described as fun, engaging, and remarkably knowledgeable, ready to field even the trickiest questions.
They cover a lot of ground, from how cocoa is grown and turned into chocolate to the story of the company itself. That mix keeps both kids and adults interested throughout.
Some guides have earned praise for knowing seemingly everything despite being fairly new to the job. Others are longtime favorites remembered warmly by returning guests.
What stands out is how patient they are, taking time to explain each step and answer accurately rather than rushing through. That attention makes the whole thing feel personal.
Whether you arrive with a school group or just your family, the guides tend to leave a strong impression. Their enthusiasm for the work is hard to miss and even harder to forget.
A Gift Shop Stacked To The Ceiling
Resisting the shop is a losing battle, and most people happily surrender. The retail store is huge and stocked with just about every kind of chocolate you could think of.
Selection is a recurring highlight, with the shelves described as filled with every chocolate imaginable. Shoppers often end up carrying out far more than they planned.
The staff behind the counter earn steady praise for being kind, friendly, and helpful, answering questions and pointing people toward favorites. That helpfulness makes browsing easy.
Positioned at the end of the tour, the shop is where those $2 coupons come in handy. It is nearly impossible to walk past the displays without picking something up.
Beyond the buckeyes, there is fudge, chocolate-covered strawberries, and plenty more to explore. The variety alone makes the visit feel worthwhile, tour or not.
Sweet Options Even For Sugar Watchers
Not everyone can load up on sugar, and this shop keeps that in mind. Among the vast selection, sugar-free options are available, which is a welcome surprise for those who need them.
That inclusion means more people can join in the fun without feeling left out. It reflects the shop’s effort to stock a little something for nearly every guest.
Alongside the standard treats, the range covers plenty of ground, so shoppers with different needs still find plenty to choose from. Variety is one of the store’s biggest strengths.
People often mention buying large amounts of chocolate and candy here, and the presence of sugar-free choices only widens the appeal. It is a thoughtful detail in a place already generous with options.
Whether you are shopping for yourself or picking up treats for someone with dietary limits, the shop makes it doable. Sweetness without the sugar is a rare bonus worth noting.
The Annual Open House Worth Marking Down
Once a year, the doors open a little wider. The annual open house is the one time the factory offers a weekend tour, since regular tours run during the week.
People describe it as free and well worth attending, a special occasion that draws families eager for a peek at the operation. The Easter open house in particular gets warm mentions.
During these events, the plant tour tends to move quickly, letting crowds flow through without long stalls. It has a lively, festive feel that regular days do not always match.
Guests often use the open house as a chance to stock up, leaving with bags full of chocolate and candy. The free admission makes it an easy yes.
If your weekday schedule never lines up with the standard tours, keeping an eye out for this yearly event solves the problem. It is a beloved tradition among those in the know.
A Trip Built For The Whole Family
Few outings please every age at once, but this one manages it. The factory earns a reputation as a fantastic place for families, with the tour praised as great for kids.
Parents bring their children through the walkways, and the little ones stay engaged watching candy get made below. Workers waving up at them adds to the charm.
School groups make the trip too, with fourth graders and their chaperones calling the experience awesome. The guides adjust to keep young audiences following along.
Since the whole thing wraps in about an hour and costs so little, it fits neatly into a family day without strain. Everyone leaves having learned and tasted something.
Some folks even bring visiting relatives here, using it as a go-to way to show out-of-town guests something distinctly Columbus. It works for grandparents, kids, and everyone in between.
Free Samples And Coupons On Your Way Out
Ending on a sweet note is basically guaranteed here. At the close of the tour, everyone receives a sample treat, a small reward that caps off the visit nicely.
Along with the sample come vouchers for money off any candy you want to buy, stacking the value even higher. Between the low ticket price and the coupons, the math works heavily in your favor.
People frequently point out how the coupon system lets them essentially recoup the tour cost through a shop purchase. It turns admission into something close to free.
The samples give you a taste of what the shop has to offer, which conveniently makes it harder to leave empty-handed. That is likely part of the plan, and nobody seems to mind.
Walking out with a treat in hand and savings in your pocket, you get the sense the place genuinely wants you happy. Generosity like that keeps people coming back.
Hours, Reservations, And Getting There
Planning ahead makes this visit smooth from start to finish. The factory operates Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 5:30 PM, and it stays closed on Sundays.
Tours run every hour during those days, so timing your arrival is flexible. Arriving on a weekday morning tends to mean smaller crowds, with midmorning trips described as uncrowded.
For groups of four or more, booking online is the way to go. Smaller parties should call ahead instead, and making a reservation helps guarantee your spot.
The location on Arlingate Lane on the west side of Columbus is straightforward to reach and comes with easy access once you arrive. Parking is not an issue for most.
A quick note on cost. Prices in the shop can run on the higher side for quality chocolate, so budgeting for a few purchases makes sense.
Plan your window, and the rest falls into place.
Why This Stop Belongs On Your List
Bringing it all together, this factory delivers far more than a candy run. Between the working tour, the family history, and the shop packed with treats, it offers a full afternoon for just a few dollars.
The buckeye candy remains the headliner, and tasting it where it is made is the kind of experience that sticks with you. People travel back after years away just to relive it.
Kind staff, engaging guides, and that clever coupon system all add up to a place that feels welcoming rather than commercial. It is easy to see why the feedback stays so strong.
Whether you are a lifelong Columbus resident or passing through with guests, a trip to Anthony-Thomas Candy Shoppes rewards the effort. It is affordable, memorable, and genuinely sweet.
Save the address, pick a weekday, and go find out what a real buckeye tastes like. Chances are you will be planning your next visit before you finish the last bite.
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