Remember the candy dish at Grandma’s house, filled with ribbon candy and sticky bon bons? Pennsylvania still has shops that make and sell those classic sweets, and some have been doing it for generations.
A few pour candy into antique molds, while others stock treats that were popular decades ago. Here are seven spots across the state where old-fashioned candy is alive and well, from busy Philadelphia to quiet country roads.
1. Shane Confectionery, Philadelphia, PA
Old City Philadelphia is full of history, and one of its sweetest chapters sits at 110 Market Street. Shane Confectionery traces its roots to 1911, and the shop operates inside a beautifully restored historic building.
The candy here is made on site. That includes chocolates and traditional hard candies, plus clear toy candy poured into antique molds, a Pennsylvania classic that is getting harder to find.
The staff are friendly and happy to share the shop’s story, which makes a quick stop feel like a mini history lesson. The Craftsman Chocolate Assortment is a popular pick, and vegan candy options are also available.
Hours run noon to 8 PM Monday through Thursday, 11 AM to 9 PM on Friday and Saturday, and 11 AM to 8 PM on Sunday. Saturday afternoons get busy, so a weekday visit is the calmer choice.
Street parking is available nearby.
2. Clear Toy Candy from the Past, Felton, PA
Some candy makers do a little of everything. This York County confectioner chose one specialty and stuck with it.
Clear Toy Candy from the Past is dedicated to hand-poured clear toy hard candy, the shiny, see-through shapes that many Pennsylvania families set out around the holidays. The little animals, trains, and figures are part of a craft that goes back generations in the state.
The business is based at 6 Oriole Circle in Felton, a small community south of York. It is listed as an artisan confectionery, so this is more of a specialty candy maker than a browse-the-aisles shop.
I would reach out before planning a trip. The phone number is 717-246-3350, and the website, oldfashionedhomemadecandy.com, is the best place to check on ordering and availability.
3. Callie’s Candy Kitchen, Mountainhome, PA
Ribbon candy, bon bons with gooey centers, pulled candy with patterns set inside, and candy canes of serious size. If that list brings back memories, Callie’s Candy Kitchen is your Pocono stop.
The family-owned shop has been running since 1952. It sits along Route 390 in Mountainhome, an easy detour for anyone heading through the Poconos.
The selection of homemade candy is wide, and the staff are known for being helpful when you cannot decide. Those classic hard candies are the star, the same kind that once filled glass dishes in living rooms across the state.
Plan around Wednesday, when the shop is closed. Every other day it is open 10 AM to 5 PM, and Saturday afternoon is the busiest window.
4. Vintage Candy Shop, Lancaster, PA
Ever wondered which decade your favorite candy came from? Vintage Candy Shop in downtown Lancaster labels many of its treats by the era they were popular, with some going back to the 1800s.
The shelves hold hundreds of novelty and retro candies. A Vend-O-Rama machine stocks chilled classic chocolates, and toy and candy quarter machines add to the old-school fun.
Not everything is about the past, though. The shop freeze-dries its own candies on site and makes crystal gem candy, known as kohakutou, by hand and air-dries it in the store.
There is also an ice cream counter serving hand-dipped Kreider Farms ice cream, sundaes, and banana splits, plus coffee drinks made with Lancaster County Roasters coffee. A concession window opens right onto King Street, with outdoor seating.
The shop is closed Mondays and open 10 AM to 7 PM Tuesday through Saturday and 10 AM to 6 PM Sunday.
5. Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum & Candy Emporium, Orrtanna, PA
Where else can you shop more than 1,200 kinds of candy and then look at thousands of elephants? Mister Ed’s, near Gettysburg, has made that strange pairing work since 1975.
The candy room is the main draw for this list. Old-fashioned and hard-to-find sweets fill the space, alongside homemade fudge and fresh roasted jumbo peanuts.
The elephant collection totals around 25,000 pieces, split between the Orrtanna headquarters and the Al Ringling Mansion in Wisconsin. In 2018, Miss Pat’s Teapot Museum opened on the grounds with more than 200 teapots.
The business is now run by the third generation of the founding family. More than 150,000 people visit each year.
Doors open daily from 10 AM to 6 PM, and a parking lot is on site. It pairs nicely with a Gettysburg day trip along Chambersburg Road.
6. Stutz Candy Company, Hatboro, PA
Montgomery County sweet tooths have a reliable answer on Warminster Road. Stutz Candy Company is a stand-alone confectionery selling chocolates, fudge, and other treats, with some made in house.
The mix leans traditional. Shoppers find chocolates, jellies, and hard candies, along with sugar-free items for anyone watching their sugar.
That variety makes it a handy stop for gift boxes or a small treat for yourself. I like it as a straightforward, no-fuss candy shop.
Hours are generous: 9 AM to 7 PM on weekdays, 9 AM to 6 PM on Saturday, and noon to 5 PM on Sunday. Weekday mornings are usually quiet.
7. Reppert’s Candy, Oley, PA
Free samples are a great way to start any candy run. Reppert’s Candy in the Oley Valley offers them, which helps when the choices get tough.
The shop carries chocolates and other sweets, some with a homemade taste. Fans of retro treats will also spot old-fashioned candies from the 1960s and 1970s.
Oley sits in rural Berks County, so a visit fits well into a scenic drive through farm country east of Reading.
Reppert’s is open every day from 10 AM to 6 PM. Saturday afternoon draws the biggest crowd, while Tuesday mornings tend to be calm.
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