Shane Candies: America's Oldest Candy Store
Stepping into Shane Candies is like stepping into another era. While that might apply to many attractions in Old City Philadelphia, there isn’t anything reconstructed or re-crafted about America’s oldest candy store. Tucked away a few doors down from Franklin’s Print Shop and the rest of Franklin Square, Shane Candies is truly Philadelphia’s sweetest national treasure.
Operating in the fourth generation of its founding family, Shane Candies is managed with great care. Some of the details are in the store’s updates—the store’s tender lovingly described the seasonal display rotation process while standing next to the Philadelphia-themed souvenir chocolates.
Most of the shop’s charm rests in its authenticity and history. Founded by the Shane family in 1876, the store is known for its famed buttercreams. The vanilla buttercreams in particular are rich and tempered in a homestyle fashion. Like all of the candy selections at Shane Candies, the buttercreams are made with no preservatives.
Other details in the shop include an old-fashioned register, original molding work on the lower half of the white counters, hand-written price charts and built-in shelving.
The store’s proprietors complete the Shane Candies experience, offering recommendations based on preferences and price range. Shane Candies sells its delectables in quarter, half, full and multiple pound quantities. Each selection comes tied in a plastic bag or in a specialty Shane Candies box with ribbon, but the staff takes care to serve their customers well with the packaging. “If you’re going to eat those right now, let me put them in a sturdier bag for you,” the man behind the counter advises a customer with a lunch time sweet tooth.
Shane Candies is priced competitively as a specialty store on Market Street, but small sample buttercream boxes are available for less than $2.00. Shane Candies also ships to various locations and stocks candies in specialty gift shapes.
Gone are the downtown department stores, but the personalized service of a pre-electronic era lives on at Shane Candies. Customers aren’t rushed when browsing and the staff offer enjoyable, appropriate conversations along with expert recommendations.
Located in Old City, yards away from the El stop and close to Penn’s Landing, Shane Candies is a mandatory destination for any visitors—especially families.
Posted by Tara M. Clapper
