Community post
Candy Filled Field Trip
Went on a little field trip today. Visited Schimpff's Confectionery in Jeffersonville, Indiana. It's been voted the best candy store in America two years in a row by USA Today. And I can see why.
This is a family owned candy store. The real deal. One of the oldest continuously operated, family-owned candy businesses in the United States. Gustav Schimpff Sr. and Jr. opened the doors on April 11, 1891. That's over 130 years of making candy in the same location. The Schimpff family had been making candy in the Louisville area since the 1850s before that.
Walking in feels like stepping back in time. They've got an authentic 1950s soda fountain with the original tin ceiling. A candy museum with thousands of pieces of American candy memorabilia. And you can watch them make candy on century-old equipment the same way it's been done for over a hundred years. They even survived the 1937 flood. Water got up to the second floor. They're still here.
They're known for their cinnamon red hots, still made by hand on the original marble tables. Chocolates. Toffee. And something called Modjeskas, which are marshmallows covered in caramel. A regional treat I'd never heard of before.
Picked up some sugar free chocolate covered peanuts. Yeah, I'm watching the blood sugar. But that doesn't mean I can't enjoy something sweet now and then. Just have to be smart about it.
Sometimes you just need to get out of the house. Go somewhere. See something. Do something different. It doesn't have to be a big adventure. A little candy store a few miles away works just fine. It felt good to be out. Moving. Living. Supporting a small family business that's been around since 1891.
If you're ever in the area, check them out. https://schimpffs.com/
What's a local spot you love that most people don't know about?
Thanks for reading,
Joe
Notes:
-All content is mine unless otherwise annotated.
-Images are my own unless otherwise noted.
-Photos edited using Linux photo editor and drawing and/or iPhone SE.
-Page Dividers from The Terminal Discord.
Replies (30)
You know when we say we feel like a kid walking into a candy store, this actually is, and it's off the charts!
The jars they use to hold the candies are so beautiful and elegant. Grand find
I felt like a kid all over again. They even have a very small diner inside. The wife and I plan to go back for a lunch some day for a sandwich and more sugar free candies :).
That place looks like heaven and hell...at the same time. Among so many sweets at least some of them should be really good. But I fear that I would spend way too much there.
Oh, it is something else for sure. Such a small place, but such joy. Especially if you long for days of old when life seemed simple as a kid.
Also this reminded me of a story about a raccoon who ransacked the drinks store and then slept in the toilet. I could see him doing raid to this store as well.😛
impressive set up was inexpensive!
?
They would get a sugar high then. :)
was the candy expensive
Yeah but seems everything is these days
Looks like a really cool old place. I remember visiting the local candy store when I was a kid. It's changed ownership now, but they are still running. At least they didn't shut down!
It was. Yeah, you don't see many mom & pops staying in business too long anymore like that.
People often tell me that I know the city where I live better than the locals who were actually born there, and I think that’s because I love exploring the city and discovering new things. But what I’ve just seen in your post is absolutely incredible. Especially because they’re still making the sweets in the same way they did over a hundred years ago. When I saw the bit about the boxes, I was absolutely fascinated because I love them, those old boxes are beautiful, as is the whole presentation of the place in general.
It’s true that you should watch your sugar intake, but a little now and then, provided you don’t have a serious health condition, isn’t a bad thing at all; it’s a bit of a treat. And most importantly, you got out and about and visited that lovely place. Thanks for that, big hugs!🤗
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I can't remember something like this in my area. They all change overtime.
That's something I do not do, get out more. Need to do it. Been telling the wife we should. We have lived here 6 years now and I barely know the area. Yeah, it is a special place for sure. No doubt there are other hidden gems just like it too. Yes, I have serious health issues, so must watch my sugar.
Hardly any places like this around anymore.
So take really good care of yourself!!! I mean, really good! And I hope you find more hidden gems and bring them back!
Have been and will. 🤗
🤗
Thank you
What a delightful little shop so full of color and character.
I grew up in a neighborhood with six or seven little Chinese owned corner stores that are not up to this level but as I can recall they were the quickest way to spend my hard earned allowance to the allure of sweets. I blame my Great Grand father who doubled as baby sitter often took me to each little Convenience store. Each proprietor know my great-grand father. A Jersey Milk Chocolate bar was my reward for accompanying him. I went back to the old hood, none of the stores exist anymore now. We don't see those front signs anymore.
❤️
!PIZZA
That place is a gem, not because I'm particularly fond of candy, hehe (I also have to watch my blood sugar) but because of all the history it holds, that alone makes it worth going in to explore. The old soda fountain is so cool.
It is a lovely place for sure. And the employees are so friendly too.
Don't you just miss those little neighborhood stores? What memories.
It is a little history gem. We plan to go there for a small lunch as they have a small diner inside and do serve sandwiches. And the soda fountains still work!
Because of that, I remembered that sometimes they ask me how was your Gramps doing? On occasion the shop keeper refused my cash and letting have the candy of my choice. Shop keepers knew their customers by name.
Yes, I miss those childhood days.
Where I live now, there is only one privately owned Convenience Store. This shop manages to survive even with a Loblaw's Grocery chain store sitting right across the street from it.
I slip in to buy some flowers now and then to support this shop.
i agree, getting out and doing things for whatever reason lifts the spirits! Here we have Sovereign Hill, that's like a reanactment place around the goldfields. I used to love going there when I was a kid - everyone in Victoria has an excursion or two there at one point in their lives! Blacksmiths, potters, gold panning, and old school room - AND a sweet store, which had the best humbugs. That's what this shop reminds me of. I don't have a sweet tooth, especially for this kind of spun sugar sweets, but there was something very wondrous about it.
You can't beat the small mom & pop shops like that. They knew their customer and how to treat them.
There is a revival in some of the towns here in the old downtown areas. People are opening up small mom & poop shops again. It gives it an old town feel. But not sure it will be the same as places like this were.
That is so cool about Sovereign Hills. Sounds a lot like what we had in my home town called the Rendevous. But it was only once a year for a weekend.
Yeah, didn't thin kI would be interested in a candy store too much myself. But just thought the history and nostalgia of it was so neat.
$PIZZA slices delivered:
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