12 Beloved Candy Shops Across Pennsylvania You Have To Experience
Some places know exactly how to press the joy button, and in Pennsylvania, candy shops have been doing it for generations.
Step inside and the world instantly feels lighter, sweeter, and just a little more playful.
Glass cases gleam with colorful treats, bells ring on the door, and the smell of sugar and chocolate wraps around you like a happy memory.
These shops are more than stops for sweets, they are landmarks of celebration, reward, and pure impulse.
Locals grow up visiting them, bring their kids back years later, and still pause at the counter like wide eyed first timers.
Pennsylvania has a long love affair with handmade confections, and it shows in the care, creativity, and pride behind every display.
Some spots feel frozen in time, others keep things lively and bold, but all of them understand the same truth.
A good candy shop does not rush you, does not judge your choices, and never skimps on delight. One visit is never enough, and that is exactly the point.
1. Hershey’s Chocolate World
Chocolate lovers find themselves in a theme park dedicated entirely to cocoa at this iconic destination.
Located at 101 Chocolate World Way, Hershey, PA 17033, this attraction sits in the heart of the town that Milton Hershey built.
Visitors can take a free tour ride that shows how chocolate is made from bean to bar.
The building features a massive retail area filled with every Hershey product imaginable, plus create-your-own candy bar stations.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Hershey’s Kisses dominate the bestseller lists here. The 4D chocolate mystery show adds entertainment beyond shopping.
Did you know the original factory tour ended on June 29, 1973, and Hershey’s Chocolate World opened right after? The building’s exterior mimics a giant Hershey’s bar wrapper in brown and silver tones.
Staff members dress in chocolate-themed uniforms that make the experience feel like stepping into a candy wonderland.
2. Wilbur Chocolate Retail Store
Since 1884, this Lititz institution has been crafting some of America’s finest chocolate confections. You’ll find the store at 45 N Broad St, Lititz, PA 17543, right in the charming downtown area.
Wilbur Buds are the signature treat, resembling flat-bottomed Hershey Kisses but with a richer flavor profile.
The retail space occupies a historic building with exposed brick walls and vintage chocolate-making equipment on display.
Walking through feels like stepping back in time to when candy making was a true art form. Chocolate-covered pretzels and peanut butter meltaways fly off the shelves faster than employees can restock them.
Wilbur’s long history shows up in the memorabilia and classic displays throughout the space. Original wooden beams and tin ceiling tiles add authentic period charm to the shopping experience.
Samples are generous, and the staff knows every product’s history by heart.
3. Asher’s Chocolates Retail Store & Candy Factory
Family recipes passed down through five generations make this Souderton spot a must-visit destination.
Located at 80 Wambold Rd, Souderton, PA 18964, the facility combines retail shopping with actual candy production.
Large windows let visitors watch chocolatiers hand-dip strawberries and shape truffles in real time. The building’s modern design features clean lines and plenty of natural light flooding the sales floor.
Sea salt caramels wrapped in dark chocolate rank as the store’s most requested item. Sugar-free options cater to customers with dietary restrictions without sacrificing taste.
Founder Chester Asher started the company in 1892, and the business has been growing ever since. The factory produces over 100 different chocolate varieties throughout the year.
Seasonal specialties like pumpkin spice truffles and peppermint bark create long lines during holidays.
Staff members offer factory tour information and answer questions about the chocolate-making process enthusiastically.
4. Shane Confectionery
One of America’s oldest continuously operating candy stores has been sweetening lives since 1863.
Situated at 110 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106, this Old City gem transports customers to the Victorian era.
Original marble countertops and antique display cases create an atmosphere that modern stores can’t replicate. Buttercream candies made using 19th-century recipes remain the signature offering.
Every piece gets hand-poured and hand-cut by skilled confectioners working in the visible back kitchen. The narrow storefront building features ornate moldings and period-appropriate lighting fixtures.
For generations, Shane’s has kept Philadelphia stocked with sweets for celebrations big and small. Clear candy sticks in dozens of flavors line the vintage glass jars along the walls.
Chocolate-covered graham crackers and coconut clusters round out the bestsellers list. Tours are available by appointment, revealing candy-making techniques that haven’t changed in over 150 years.
5. Sarris Candies
Western Pennsylvania’s chocolate kingdom sprawls across a massive facility that feels more like a candy amusement park.
Find it at 511 Adams Ave, Canonsburg, PA 15317, where parking lots fill up fast on weekends.
The building houses an ice cream parlor, cafe, and retail store all under one roof. Pretzels drenched in milk chocolate and rolled in toffee bits are legendary among regulars.
Floor-to-ceiling windows showcase the production area where workers create thousands of pounds of candy daily. The interior design combines rustic wooden accents with bright, cheerful colors.
Frank Sarris started the business in 1960 in his basement with just $600. Today the company ships worldwide and employs over 300 people during peak seasons.
Peanut butter meltaways and chocolate-covered strawberries disappear almost immediately after being stocked. The cafe serves hot fudge sundaes that could feed three people comfortably.
6. Daffin’s Candies
Big chocolate sculptures and show-stopping displays define this Sharon landmark like no other shop. Located at 496 E State St, Sharon, PA 16146, the store’s Chocolate Kingdom is a photo stop all on its own.
A giant chocolate turtle sits proudly on display for photo opportunities. The building resembles a charming cottage with colorful awnings and window boxes.
Inside, chocolate-covered potato chips provide the perfect sweet and salty combination that keeps people coming back. Sponge candy, a regional specialty, ranks as another top seller.
The Daffin family has operated the business since 1903, maintaining quality through four generations.
During holidays, the shop creates elaborate chocolate scenes featuring everything from nativity displays to Easter gardens.
Staff members hand-paint intricate designs on specialty chocolates using food coloring. The retail area spans multiple rooms filled with barrels of bulk candy and gift baskets.
7. Gertrude Hawk Chocolates
Northeastern Pennsylvania’s favorite chocolate maker operates from a sprawling complex in Dunmore. You’ll discover it at 901 Keystone Industrial Park Rd, Dunmore, PA 18512, in a business park setting.
The retail store connects directly to the factory, offering incredibly fresh products straight from production. Smidgens, bite-sized chocolate pieces in various flavors, are the company’s claim to fame.
Chocolate-covered pretzels dusted with sea salt compete closely for customer attention. The building’s industrial exterior gives way to a warm, inviting retail space inside.
Gertrude Hawk started making candy in her kitchen in 1936 during the Great Depression. Today the company operates over 70 retail locations across several states.
Fundraising programs using Gertrude Hawk chocolates have helped countless schools and organizations raise millions of dollars.
Seasonal shapes like chocolate bunnies and Santa figures get produced months in advance to meet demand.
8. Gardners Candies
Central Pennsylvania’s hidden gem has been perfecting candy recipes since 1897. Find the Tyrone shop at 30 W 10th St, Tyrone, PA 16686, where longtime locals still stop in for sweet classics.
Peanut butter meltaways practically melt on your tongue before you can even chew them. The store occupies a modest building with a vintage sign that’s become a local landmark.
Inside, wooden shelves and simple displays let the candy quality speak for itself. Chocolate-covered graham crackers layered with peanut butter are another customer favorite.
More than a century of candy-making goes into the recipe book, and the classics never cut corners.
The company still uses copper kettles for certain confections, a practice most manufacturers abandoned decades ago.
During summer months, the shop temporarily stops making certain chocolates because they refuse to compromise quality with stabilizers.
Hand-dipped strawberries appear only when local berries are at peak ripeness, typically late spring through early summer.
9. Boyer Candy Factory Outlet
Mallo Cups have achieved cult status among candy enthusiasts, and this Altoona outlet is ground zero. Positioned at 821 17th St, Altoona, PA 16602, the factory outlet offers direct access to fresh Boyer products.
Those iconic cardboard coins inside each Mallo Cup wrapper once could be redeemed for prizes.
The building’s simple brick facade reflects the no-frills approach Boyer takes to candy making. Inside, bargain hunters score discounted slightly imperfect candies that taste identical to regular stock.
Smoothie Cups, made with peanut butter instead of marshmallow, appeal to customers who prefer nutty over fluffy.
Brothers Bill and Bob Boyer created the Mallo Cup in 1936 during the Depression as an affordable treat. The company remains one of the few independent candy manufacturers still family-owned.
Peppermint Patties covered in dark chocolate provide a refreshing alternative to the sweeter options. Outlet prices make stocking up for holidays incredibly budget-friendly.
10. Éclat Chocolate
Bean-to-bar chocolate making reaches artistic heights at this West Chester boutique.
Located at 24 S High St, West Chester, PA 19382, the shop occupies a beautifully restored historic building downtown.
Owner Christopher Curtin roasts, grinds, and tempers every batch of chocolate himself using cacao beans from specific farms.
The minimalist interior design features white walls and sleek display cases that highlight the chocolate as art.
Single-origin bars showcase flavor profiles from different growing regions around the world. Salted caramels made with French butter and Pennsylvania sea salt are ridiculously good.
Curtin trained in France and brought European techniques back to Pennsylvania. The shop offers chocolate-making classes where participants learn tempering and truffle-rolling skills.
Seasonal bonbons feature local ingredients like lavender from nearby farms. Prices reflect the labor-intensive process and premium ingredients, but one bite explains the cost completely.
11. Bergin’s Chocolate
Artisan chocolates meet farm-fresh ingredients at this West Point treasure. Set at 2634 Morris Rd, West Point, PA 19486, the shop operates in a converted barn surrounded by rolling countryside.
The rustic setting adds authenticity to the handcrafted approach owner Tom Bergin takes with every batch. Salted caramels made with local cream and butter taste like pure heaven.
Dark chocolate bark studded with dried cherries and almonds provides the perfect balance of flavors. The barn’s interior retains original wooden beams and stone walls, creating a cozy shopping atmosphere.
Bergin’s sources ingredients from nearby farms whenever possible, supporting the local agricultural community. Truffles get hand-rolled and decorated with intricate designs that look too beautiful to eat.
Seasonal flavors rotate monthly, featuring ingredients at their peak freshness. The shop hosts chocolate tasting events with local makers several times yearly.
Limited production means popular items sell out quickly, especially during holidays.
12. Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop
Step into Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop, 2111 Beaver Ave, Beaver, Pennsylvania 15009, and prepare to feel like a kid again.
Shelves overflow with colorful classics, quirky imports, and nostalgic treats that spark instant smiles.
Retro candies sit alongside craft sodas, novelty chocolates, and playful gifts that make browsing as much fun as indulging.
Take your time exploring every aisle; you might rediscover long-lost favorites you thought had vanished.
Each visit promises unique flavors, shareable sweets, and surprises perfect for road trips or spontaneous treats.
The friendly staff adds to the magic, happily pointing out hidden gems and ringing up your finds with a grin that matches the joyful energy of the shop.
Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop isn’t just a store; it’s a sweet escape, a colorful wonderland where Pennsylvania charm meets the simple joy of candy, and every visit leaves you smiling (and maybe sneaking a few extra treats).
You might even find a new favorite candy you didn’t know you needed.