Generations Of Chicago Kids Have Pressed Their Noses Against The Glass At Margie’s Candies
A six-scoop sundae once fed The Beatles in a little Illinois sweet shop that still looks almost exactly the way it did back then. Kids today crowd the same glass candy cases their grandparents did, eyes wide at trays of chocolates and fudge.
The booths are snug, the hot fudge arrives on the side, and every treat comes with a crisp wafer cookie. For families who love old-fashioned traditions close to home, this is one outing worth planning.
A Century-Old Sweet Shop On Western Avenue
Right on the corner of Western Avenue, where Chicago’s Bucktown and Logan Square neighborhoods meet, sits a shop that has been handing out sundaes since 1921. Margie’s Candies lives at 1960 N Western Ave, and it is easy to spot once you know to look for the line.
At heart, it is an old-fashioned ice cream parlor and candy maker. Homemade sundaes, banana splits, shakes, and hand-dipped chocolates fill the menu, and the whole room feels like a time capsule that never got sealed shut.
Locals treat it as a city staple. Many grew up coming here as teenagers and now bring their own children, which explains the steady mix of strollers, grandparents, and first dates squeezed inside on any given night.
For Illinois families, the appeal is simple. You do not need tickets, reservations, or a long drive across the state, just a sweet tooth and a little patience.
A second Margie’s location in the North Center neighborhood stretches the tradition a bit farther, but the Western Avenue shop is the original, the one with the history baked right into its walls. Start here if you want the full story.
From Securities Sweet Shop To A Family Love Story
Back in 1921, a Greek immigrant named Peter George Poulos opened a little place he called the Securities Sweet Shop. Not exactly a name that makes kids run to the door, right?
Things changed in 1933. Peter’s son George had met a young woman named Margie Michaels inside the shop, and the family renamed the business in her honor.
Margie’s Candies was born from a romance that started over the counter.
Margie herself became the heart of the place. She ran the shop for five decades, keeping the recipes, the booths, and the welcome exactly the way customers loved them.
Her steady hand helped turn a neighborhood candy counter into a Chicago institution. When people say the shop feels the same as it did years ago, they are crediting decisions she made to protect what worked.
Today, four generations of the Poulos family have carried that legacy forward. It is still family-owned and family-operated, which is rarer than it sounds in a big city full of chains.
Little wonder regulars describe staff as making them feel like family. In a very real way, the business is one long family tradition that customers get to join.
Tiffany Lamps, Tabletop Jukeboxes, And Cozy Booths
Step inside and the modern world fades fast. Wood-paneled walls hold vintage photographs, classic clocks, and commemorative plaques, while softly glowing lamps hang over every table.
Original Tiffany lamps and a marble soda fountain add to the feeling that nothing important has been changed in decades. That is completely on purpose.
The booths steal the show for kids. Each one has a miniature jukebox mounted on the table, and young visitors love flipping through the song cards even when the machines are more decoration than music player these days.
Fair warning, the space is snug. Booths are tight and the aisles get crowded, so larger groups may feel a little squeezed.
Fans call this lovingly cluttered charm, and honestly, the closeness is part of what makes the place feel like a neighborhood living room.
A large display case near the entrance tells the shop’s history, and kids enjoy studying the old photos while grown-ups wait for a table.
Many visitors say walking in feels like stepping onto a movie set. Bring a camera, because the room itself is as memorable as anything on the menu, and those booth photos tend to end up framed at home.
Clamshell Sundaes Built For Sharing
Big. That is the first word nearly everyone uses about the sundaes here, and it is no exaggeration.
Each one arrives in a signature clamshell bowl piled with homemade ice cream, whipped cream, nuts, a cherry, and a crisp vanilla wafer. The hot fudge comes on the side in its own little boat, so you pour exactly as much as you want right at the table.
Kids adore that part. Being handed your own pitcher of warm fudge feels like a grown-up privilege and a sugar adventure at the same time.
The menu lists more than fifty sundae varieties. The turtle sundae, with caramel poured over the ice cream before serving, is a longtime favorite, and hot fudge mixed with marshmallow fluff is pure decadence.
Then there is the Atomic Sundae, a six-scoop marvel famously enjoyed by The Beatles during their 1965 Chicago visit. Fans still order it to taste a bit of rock history, and there is a Beatles tribute display to admire too.
Feeding a crowd? The Royal George packs twenty-five scoops, and there is even a World’s Largest Sundae.
Splitting one giant dish turns dessert into a team sport.
Banana Splits, Shakes, And Homemade Hot Fudge
Ask regulars what to order and banana splits come up more than anything else. They are enormous, made with properly ripe bananas, and worth the wait people sometimes put in for years before finally trying one.
Shakes deserve their own fan club. Malted milkshakes come out so thick the straw nearly stands on its own, and the Fudge Royal Shake gets strong praise from those who try it.
The real secret, though, is the toppings. The hot fudge is dark and rich rather than sugary, clearly made in-house, and the caramel and butterscotch follow the same homemade approach.
Not into sundaes? Brownie a la mode arrives with a warm brownie, and apple pie a la mode is an old-fashioned staple that fits the setting perfectly.
Soda fans can try the coffee or cafe au lait soda, which earns high marks for its coffee ice cream. Sodas in general bring a fizzy, classic fountain touch to the table.
Every treat ends with that crispy vanilla wafer cookie. It is a tiny detail, but kids look forward to it like a prize at the bottom of a cereal box, and it makes every order feel complete.
Glass Cases Full Of Hand-Dipped Chocolates
Here is where the noses meet the glass. Right inside the door sits a big island of house-made chocolates, and generations of children have stood there pointing at every tray.
Remember, the name says Candies for a reason. Long before sundaes became the headliner, this was a candy shop, and that craft continues today.
Shelves and cases hold hand-dipped chocolates, rich caramels, buttery English toffee, and smooth fudge. Artisan chocolates and gift boxes make easy presents for teachers, birthdays, or a grandparent who loves old-school sweets.
A quick tip for first-timers: that candy island is not where you order ice cream. Newcomers sometimes stand there waiting, so ask staff where to go for takeout versus dine-in.
Buying a small box of chocolates is also a budget-friendly way to enjoy the shop on a busy night when tables are full. You still get the sights, the smells, and a sweet souvenir to take home.
Kids can pick one or two pieces each, which turns the visit into a little lesson in choosing wisely. Trust us, that decision can take a surprisingly long time when everything looks so good.
Crowds, Wait Times, And Who Will Love It Most
Lines are part of the ritual. Summer evenings and weekend nights get especially busy, and waits for a table can stretch to around forty minutes.
Good news: the line usually moves steadily, and orders often come out fast once you are in. Many families say the anticipation makes the treat taste even better.
Who fits best here? Nostalgia lovers, grandparents sharing childhood memories, and kids who think a sundae taller than their head is the greatest thing ever invented.
Families with little ones who get overwhelmed by noise and crowds may prefer a quieter weekday daytime visit. Takeout is an option too, so nobody has to squeeze into a booth.
Groups should plan on sharing. Portions are generous enough that one sundae can satisfy two people, which keeps the cost reasonable and the fun communal.
A small lunch menu also exists, including grilled cheese with turkey and soup, so an early visit can double as a light meal before dessert.
Above all, the place suits anyone who values a warm, community feeling over fancy surroundings. It is humble, a bit crowded, and full of heart, exactly the kind of local legend Illinois families brag about.
Planning Your Late-Night Sundae Run
Late owls rejoice. Margie’s opens at 10 am every day and stays open until 11 pm Monday through Thursday, then until midnight Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Those late hours make it a perfect after-dinner or after-ballgame stop. Arrive earlier in the day if you want the best shot at a booth without a long wait.
Find it at 1960 N Western Ave in Chicago, at the edge of Bucktown and Logan Square. Families driving in from the suburbs or downstate Illinois can make it the sweet finale of a city day trip.
Prices land in the reasonable range for the huge servings you get. It is not the cheapest scoop in town, but sharing one sundae or banana split stretches the budget nicely, and a small bag of candy keeps costs low.
Bringing some cash is a smart old-school move, though staff can help explain ordering and paying if you are unsure.
So, is it worth the trip? For a family looking for low-key nostalgia, giant desserts, and a story the kids will repeat for years, this little Chicago parlor delivers.
Pull up a booth and pour that fudge.