10 Historic New York Candy Shops Locals Swear By

Ask someone where they bought candy as a kid, and the answer can reveal more than a favorite sweet. In parts of New York, the same shop has been wrapping chocolates and filling boxes for generations. Parents return with children.

Grandparents recognize the counter. Recipes keep working long after food trends move on.

That kind of loyalty cannot be manufactured with clever packaging. It comes from candy people remember well enough to seek out years later. Many of these shops still rely on old techniques, family knowledge, and batches made with patient hands.

The history is fascinating, but the real test happens after the first bite. If a candy shop can keep a neighborhood coming back for decades, there is usually a very delicious reason.

1. Fowler’s Chocolates – Buffalo

Sponge candy fans, meet the royalty of the crunch. Joseph A. Fowler first sold his sweets at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo back in 1901.

Folks loved them so much that he and his brother Claude opened a little candy store soon after.

The business stayed in the Fowler family for generations. New owners bought the company in 1993 and moved operations a year later. Today you can find the factory at 100 River Rock Dr, Suite 102, Buffalo, NY 14207.

Fowler’s calls itself the original maker of Buffalo’s famous Sponge Candy. Each piece has a golden, airy center that shatters like sweet glass under a chocolate coat. They turn out more than 35,000 pounds of it every year, so you will not be the only one with a habit.

Fresh options beyond sponge candy are plentiful. The Almond Butter Crunch is buttery and brittle in all the right ways. Sea Salt Caramels bring a mellow, salty pull, and the Chocolate Covered Popcorn is a snack you will finish before you reach the car.

Here is a fun one for gift shopping. Their Truffaloes are chocolates shaped like little buffalo, which is about as Buffalo as candy gets. Quality matters here too, with chocolates reaching up to 60 percent cacao solids.

A smart tip from one candy lover to another: keep sponge candy away from humid spots. Moisture makes it chewy, and that crunch deserves respect.

2. Parkside Candy – Buffalo

Hollywood came knocking at this sweet shop once, and it is easy to see why. Parkside Candy appeared in the 1984 baseball film The Natural with Robert Redford. One look at the room tells you it was born camera ready.

George and Molly Kaiser started the company in 1917 with Edward Kaiser. Ten years later the family built the grand shop, restaurant, and factory that still stands at 3208 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14214. Architect G.

Morton Wolfe designed it in the Adams Revival style.

The interior is pure eye candy. A checkerboard floor stretches under an oval domed plaster ceiling. Antique brass display cases and hand carved woodwork make the place feel like a jewelry box filled with chocolate.

The current owner has run Parkside since 1981, keeping traditions alive and still using much of the original machinery. A major restoration in 2017 polished everything up to a gleaming shine.

So what should land in your bag? Sponge candy is the star, with a crackly heart and a smooth chocolate jacket. Homemade chocolates and classic lollipops round out the lineup nicely.

Save room for the old fashioned ice cream parlor, too. A sundae in that room feels like a reward for good behavior, even if you skipped the vegetables. Plan to linger, because rushing through a landmark this lovely would be a sticky mistake.

3. Li-Lac Chocolates – Greenwich Village

Manhattan has plenty of shiny new dessert spots, yet the oldest chocolate house in town still steals hearts. Li-Lac Chocolates opened in 1923 under Greek immigrant George Demetrious. He learned his craft in France and brought those skills to Greenwich Village.

The first shop sat on Christopher Street. Rising rents pushed a move in 2005, and today the flagship welcomes you at 75 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10014. The Wall Street Journal once called the company stubbornly old fashioned, and the team wears that label proudly.

Original recipes rule the kitchen, and machines are kept to a minimum. A team of three partners, including a master chocolatier, has owned the business since 2011. They have grown it to several spots around New York City.

Shoppers can choose from more than 120 handmade items. Almond Bark offers a toasty snap, while Butter Crunch brings rich, golden layers. The Hazelnut Truffle Squares melt slowly and smoothly, like a velvet curtain closing.

Fudge here is the stuff of legend, dense and creamy without being cloying. Since 1923 the shop has relied on Peter’s Newport semisweet chocolate for its classic flavor.

Curious about how the magic happens? Their Brooklyn factory in Industry City has big windows for watching chocolate in action. Consider it reality TV with better snacks.

4. Schmidt’s Candy – Woodhaven

Trains rumble overhead, but inside this Queens gem time moves at a gentler pace. German immigrant Frank Schmidt Sr. opened the shop in 1925 as a soda fountain. His goal was simple: share treasured German chocolate recipes with his new neighbors.

Hard times arrived fast with the Great Depression. Schmidt Sr. protected the business by owning the building and living above the store. Over the years the focus shifted toward handmade chocolate, and the change paid off sweetly.

You will find the shop under the elevated train at 94-15 Jamaica Ave, Woodhaven, NY 11421. Antique glass and wood cases line the room. Candy jars, a tiled floor, copper kettles, and marble tables complete the charm.

Many chocolate molds date to the 1920s and 1930s. The founder’s granddaughter has run things since 1986 as the third generation owner. In 2022, the shop joined the New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry.

Chocolate with jelly filling is the top seller, and for good reason. The fruity center plays against the cocoa like a perfectly tuned duet. Holidays bring chocolate bunnies, eggs, and even kewpie dolls.

Here is a friendly heads up for Easter shoppers. Seasonal figures are handmade, so supplies are limited. Arrive early and your basket will thank you.

5. Aigner Chocolates – Forest Hills

Old world flavor and modern flair share one cozy Queens counter. Aigner Chocolates got its start in 1930 as Krause’s Candy Kitchen in Forest Hills. The Aigner family took over in the early 1960s and ran it for three generations.

European style chocolate making became their calling card. The name officially changed to Aigner Chocolates in 2009. New owners took over in 2015, keeping the family recipes at the center of everything.

Visit the shop at 103-02 Metropolitan Ave, Forest Hills, NY 11375. Equipment from the 1940s and 1950s still hums along in the kitchen. Recipes passed down through generations guide every batch.

Austrian and German style treats lead the menu. The chocolate barks crackle with nuts and fruit. Cordials offer a sweet, syrupy surprise inside a glossy shell.

Do not skip the marshmallows. They are pillowy and tender, a far cry from the squeaky supermarket kind. Toss one into hot cocoa and watch it slowly surrender.

The shop has earned a spot on the New York Historic Business Registry. That honor reflects decades of careful craft. It also means you are snacking on a piece of local heritage.

Gift givers, take note. A box from Aigner makes any host feel fancy. Just try not to sample the whole thing on the subway ride over.

6. Oliver’s Candies – Batavia

Peanuts started it all, and nobody here is complaining. Joseph Boyd Oliver launched Oliver’s Candies in 1932 by blanching peanuts at home. He sold them to local stores and gas stations, building a fan base one handful at a time.

In 1960, Joseph and his wife Edna sold the business. They made one condition very clear. The quality of their chocolates and candies had to stay the same, and the new owners honored that promise.

Over time, the original wood frame house turned into a charming chalet. It now welcomes sweet seekers at 211 W Main St, Batavia, NY 14020. The building looks like a page from a storybook set in western New York.

Cashew Glaze is the house legend. Buttery cashews wear a shiny, crisp coating that crunches like autumn leaves. One piece rarely satisfies anyone, so plan accordingly.

Hostess Squares are the other big hit. They make an easy crowd pleaser for parties and holidays. Bring a box to a gathering and you may become the favorite guest.

The shop celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2022. Its simple recipe for success centers on quality, service, taste, and consistency. Batavia sits between Buffalo and Rochester, so it makes a smart road trip pit stop.

Fill the tank, then fill the candy bag.

7. Candy Kraft Candies – Altamont

Horse drawn wagons once delivered the cream for these candies. Claude Ball founded Candy Kraft Candies in 1935 and made everything by hand. That fresh cream gave his sweets a rich, honest flavor.

Loren and Blanche Pratt bought the business in 1958. A longtime employee who started part time in 1973 bought the shop with his wife in 1984, and their son joined full time in 2006.

Head to 2575 Western Ave, Altamont, NY 12009 for a taste. The family has kept a personal touch while growing into wholesale. Loyal customers appreciate that the candy still tastes like it came from a neighbor’s kitchen.

Ribbon Candy is the showstopper. Glossy loops fold over each other like candy ribbon at a parade. The Peanut Butter Filled version adds a salty, nutty heart to that sugary shell.

Cream Filberts go by some funny nicknames. Locals call them mothballs or snowballs, though they taste far better than either. Turkey Joints are another unusual favorite worth sampling.

The handmade list keeps going with filled chocolates, mints, truffles, fudge, jellies, and creams. Nostalgic candies fill the gaps for anyone craving a flashback. Swing by during the holidays, when ribbon candy feels like a seasonal tradition in New York households.

Your sweet tooth will tie itself in knots.

8. Economy Candy – Lower East Side

Shoes and hats were the original business, believe it or not. A little candy pushcart parked outside at the corner of Rivington and Essex Streets. During the Great Depression, candy outsold shoe repairs, so the owners switched to sweets in 1937.

After World War II, Morris Cohen and his brother in law took charge and expanded. In the early 1980s the store moved into its roomy current home. You will find it at 108 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002.

Economy Candy is the oldest retail candy shop in New York City. The third generation of the Cohen family runs it today. In 2023, the corner outside was co named Morris Moishe Cohen Way.

Shelves stretch from floor to ceiling with more than 2,000 items. Hard to find brands from decades past sit beside modern favorites. It is the best place in town for a snack based time machine.

Classic house treats deserve attention too. Chocolate covered graham crackers come plain or with jelly. Chocolate covered pretzels, jelly rings, and bags of gummies make easy grabs.

Nuts and dried fruits offer a slightly healthier detour. Prices stay friendly, which explains the name. A new location opened in Chelsea Market in 2023 for anyone working uptown.

Bring a big bag and a bigger appetite.

9. Platter’s Chocolates – North Tonawanda

A humble basement launched one of western New York’s sweetest success stories. Carl Platter began making chocolates part time in his North Tonawanda home in 1938. His sponge candy, made with wife Vera, quickly won over the neighborhood.

Demand grew, and a real shop followed. In the 1970s the business moved to Oliver Street and became a local staple. Then in 2016, the family opened a modern factory inside the restored Wurlitzer Building.

Visit them at 908 Niagara Falls Blvd, North Tonawanda, NY 14120. A chocolate café sits on site. Viewing areas let you watch candy makers work their craft up close.

Orange Chocolate is the signature treat here. It bursts with bright citrus and has a satisfying snap. Fans call it zesty, and they mean it in the most delicious way.

Sponge candy is the other big draw. Its airy crunch dissolves into caramel notes on your tongue. Choose milk, dark, white, or peanut butter coatings.

The third generation of the Platter family leads the company now. They celebrated 85 years in business in 2023. Seasonal treats and novelties change throughout the year, so every visit brings something new.

Fun fact for music fans: the Wurlitzer Building once made famous organs and jukeboxes. Now it makes chocolate, which honestly hits all the right notes.

10. JoMart Chocolates – Brooklyn

Joe plus Martin equals JoMart, and the math has tasted great since 1946. Martin Rogak came home from World War II ready to build something sweet. He opened a chocolate shop with his cousin Joe on April 15 of that year.

Candy runs deep in this family. Julius Rogak made penny candy at the Newport Candy Company in Brooklyn. Martin carried that knowledge forward with fresh ideas and plenty of hustle.

The first shop sat on Franklin Avenue, surrounded by rival candy makers. JoMart focused on fresher, better products and outlasted the competition. In 1959, the business moved to 2917 Avenue R, Brooklyn, NY 11229, combining the factory and store under one roof.

The founder’s son runs things now as the third generation chocolatier. He started helping his father at just nine years old. Today he still uses the same stove and copper kettles his family trusted.

The peanut butter jelly bar is a true crowd favorite. Its jelly recipe has stayed nearly unchanged for close to a century. Nutty, fruity, and chocolatey all at once, it tastes like a lunchbox classic in formal wear.

Continental truffles offer a richer, silkier option. Everything is made with care and sold fresh. JoMart marked 79 years in 2025, proving good chocolate never goes out of style.

Brooklyn, you are lucky.