Wayside Olde Tyme Candy Store

Wayside Olde Tyme Candy Store

1015 Boston Post Road

Marlboro, MA 01752

(508) 481-3458

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After stuffing our faces with Esler's desserts, Mom and I decided to take a walk around the Wayside Country Store. As we walked through the door to the Olde Tyme Candy Shop, we saw that it had been visited by none other than the Phantom Gourmet! If the Phantom enjoyed himself, we were sure to have a good time.

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When we walked through the door at around 4 p.m., it was like we were stepping into Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. Although there were no Everlasting Gobstoppers and Wonka Bars wrapped with golden tickets, there were rows and rows of chocolate candies, jelly beans, nostalgic treats, and assorted novelty candies. The counter tops were lined with glass jars filled with candies, and every wall had some sort of display featuring various edible items. There was even a beautiful, old fashioned cash register. Mom and I didn't know where to start, so we followed the make-shift line that had formed in a square around the candy counter. There was quite a crowd in that area, so Mom and I decided to hang out in the back of the store until the cluster of wild-eyed people had lessened. In that area were handmade crafts, candles, and assorted country decor. Mom picked out a couple of spiced pumpkin Yankee Candle car jars for my sister and I ($2.99 each). There was also an area to purchase packaging supplies like gift bags and bows in case you were in a gift-giving mood.

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When the crowd died down, Mom made her way over to the counter. There was chocolate as far as the eye could see. She became fascinated with one particular area of the counter because it had giant-sized truffles, peanut butter cups, and other chocolates. The truffles were $2.50 each, but they were definitely larger than any truffle I'd ever seen. Flavors include chocolate decadence, pumpkin, Irish creme, tiramisu, peanut butter, and many more. Also on display were their many trays of delicious-looking fudge - their feature flavor being the apple cinnamon walnut for $9.95 a pound. Other flavors include pumpkin, chocolate walnut, vanilla, mudslide, peanut butter, rocky road, and penuche ($8.95/lb.). Chocolate covered pretzels and bark (both white and dark) seemed to be quite popular, while the pre-boxed chocolates (1 lb. assorted for $15.95) were piled high and awaiting purchase. There was also a lot of activity around the nostalgic and novelty candy area. Children were having a sugar-fueled time choosing from the different flavors of Jelly Belly Jelly Beans, the different colors of M&Ms, and the many sour and gummi favorites that they love. Parents enjoyed reliving their childhood with old fashioned favorites such as Boston baked beans, candy cigarettes, Mary Janes, and root beer barrels. They also have something called Bubblegum Buddies ($2.25 each). These are actual pieces of gum molded into the most interesting and beautiful shapes. Mom and I saw Thanksgiving turkeys, brides and grooms, Halloween Draculas and cats, and various other animals. They are way too cute to actually eat, and whoever is making these has an extraordinary talent. They are the most unique pieces of gum I've ever seen! You can order any of their delicious treats, including the Bubblegum Buddies, via their Web site.

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Mom decided to purchase two of the giant truffles for Dad. After flagging down one of the busy cashiers, she chose the chocolate decadence and peanut butter, since he is a fan of both flavors. The total came to:

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Truffle - $2.50

Truffle - 2.50

Car jar - 2.99

Car jar - 2.99

Subtotal - $10.98

Tax - .30

TOTAL = $11.28

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Since the entrance to the Henry Ford General Store is connected to the candy shop, we took our newly purchased goods into the store and continued our shopping trip. The general store, established in 1929, features many New England crafts along with dry goods, old fashioned crackers, Christmas crafts, jellies, relishes, dog and cat treats, and much more. Mom found something called Microwave Corn on the Cob. It is a small cob of corn that comes with a bag that you place it in to be cooked in the microwave. She bought two of them ($1.59 each) to take home to Dad and Mallory.

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Both Mom and I had a fabulous time at the Wayside Country Store. It is an adorable place to visit, and Dad had nothing but good things to say about his truffles. Both he and Mallory also enjoyed their microwavable corn on the cob. Stepping into Wayside was like taking a step back to old New England, and I can definitely agree with the Phantom Gourmet - your mind will be boggled by all the selections at the Olde Tyme Candy Store.

Ye Olde Pepper Companie

122 Derby St.

(original shop and candy factory)
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 745-2744

59 Main St. (shop)
North Andover, MA 01845
(978) 689-3636
www.yeoldepeppercandy.com

For the second part of my birthday gift, Mom and I drove to Salem to spend the day sightseeing. After a guided tour through The House of the Seven Gables, Mom and I decided to visit America's oldest candy company - Ye Olde Pepper Companie - located just across the street. Featured on the Food Network, this company has been making candy here since 1806. Considering they've been in business for over 200 years, it was obvious that Mom and I were going to stop in for some of their famous treats.

Although the building is small, it is very cute and colonial. Through the glass windows you can see into the kitchen where the candy is made using some of what looks like the original equipment. As we stepped inside around noon, Mom and I saw that the owners had dressed up the shop for Halloween. Lined with garland in a fall leaf design and covered with pumpkins and witches, the shop was neat and beautifully decorated. From the information I read on the Web site, I learned that the shop is owned by the fourth generation of the Burkinshaw family, who bought the shop from Mr. Pepper, who purchased it from the son of the original owner, Mrs. Spencer, who was shipwrecked in Salem on her journey from England in 1806.

The two candies that they are famous for are the Gibralters and the Black Jacks. The first commercially made candies in America, they are still satisfying to the modern day sweet tooth. The Gibralters come in lemon and peppermint flavor and have a smooth melt-in-your-mouth texture similar to an after dinner mint. The gift box of Gibralters, made using the original recipe, contains six lemon and six peppermint ($11.98). Although we didn't see it, we later read that somewhere in the store is a jar of original Gibralters. Can you believe it? The Black Jacks are made with old fashioned black strap molasses. The sticks have a smooth, rich, long-lasting flavor not found in artificially flavored candies. Black Jacks come in a six ounce package consisting of approximately 10 sticks, and are also made by using the original recipe from the 1800s ($4.98). Also popular at Ye Olde Pepper is the almond buttercrunch, which is made from an old family recipe using the finest Grade A butter, and then hand-dipped in creamy milk chocolate and generously covered with freshly roasted almonds. A one pound box is $15.98, and a two pound box is $30.98. They also have homemade turtles (one pound box - $16.98; two pound box - $32.98), chocolates, truffles, and fudge (one pound for $8.99). Fudge flavors include chocolate walnut, penuche, peanut butter, creme de menthe, pumpkin, mudslide, and much more. In the center of the store, they also have treats like chocolate-covered marshmallow pumpkins, old fashioned hard candies like horehounds and root beer barrels, a selection of sugar-free choices, different flavor candy sticks, ready-made boxes of treats, chocolate covered pretzels, flavored squares, and daisies made with cashews and pecans topped with a white chocolate pumpkin. The treats that Mom purchased were:

Five candy sticks - $1.25

(banana, strawberry, root beer, bubble gum, butterscotch)

Chocolate-covered marshmallow pumpkins - 2.49

Half pound of fudge - 4.05

(1/4 lb. mudslide; 1/4 lb. pumpkin)

Half pound box of assorted chocolates - 7.99

TOTAL = $15.78

We didn't get home until much later, and we were pretty excited to try our candies. The candy stick was just as I remembered from my childhood - very flavorful. The marshmallow pumpkins were sugary and sweet, and their chocolate tops were smooth and creamy. The chocolates were very good. The fillings were quite unusual - I had one that was cherry nougat, and Mom had one that was caramel peanut butter. It was interesting to see which flavor we were going to get, as none of them were what we expected. The fudge was outstanding! It had a very creamy consistency and was not sugary sweet. The pumpkin fudge had a pronounced flavor of clove, and tasted just like eating a slice of pumpkin pie. The mudslide had a lovely flavor of chocolate and cream - like a mudslide! This was some of the best fudge we've ever had.

fudge not pictured

We had a great time at Ye Olde Pepper Companie, and we were glad to have visited America's oldest candy company. It was fun seeing the old equipment through the glass encased kitchen, and if you can't get to their stores, you can place your order for their famous Gibralters, Black Jacks, or some of the other goodies on their Web site. You won't be disappointed!

Ye Olde Pepper Companie in Salem is open July through October from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday; and November through June from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The North Andover shop hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday (closed Sundays). Call either location for extended hours before holidays.

Check out the slide show to see what else we saw in Historic Salem:

Billy Boy Candies

732 Mount Pleasant St.

New Bedford, MA 02745

(508) 995-4556
www.billyboycandiesinc.com

Mom and I are both in love with Billy Boy Candies. Although I had worked right next door to this place for almost two years, I only just went inside this past spring. Boy, was I surprised at their vast and unique selection of modern and nostalgic candies and treats. Mom always tells me that she feels like she's stepping into a time machine headed back to her childhood days.

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Billy's is not much to look at. Although it does have quite a large parking lot, the exterior is very average. However, once you step through the small door, you are greeted by a colorful world of lollipops, homemade chocolates, stuffed animals, and rows and rows of candy.


I'd love to come here before a movie to stock up on treats. There is just so much to choose from, and everything is quite inexpensive. You can buy candy in bulk or in smaller individual packages. I was surprised to see that there were items at Billy's that are usually hard to find like Chunky bars, Vanilla Tootsie Rolls (a personal favorite), and Airheads. Billy Boy has rows of regular candy bars and exclusive choices like the Cookies 'n' Creme Hershey Bar and the Peanut Butter Twix. They also have bags of old favorites like Mary Janes, Squirrel Nuts, Chocolate Babies, Nonpareils, Sour Patch Kids, Boston Baked Beans, Mint Juleps, Maple Nuts, Red Hot Dollars, Black Crows, and much more! There are mints, licorice sticks, rock candy, penny candy, chocolate coins, candy cigarettes, Fun Dip, Lemonheads (and other flavors of "Heads"), chocolate covered cherries, and hundreds of different types of gum. Unusual to this type of candy warehouse, Billy Boy has a large counter at the front of the store filled with homemade goods like fudge, kisses, and nut-filled turtles. On our first few visits, Mom and I ordered white chocolate kisses and a white chocolate caramel cashew turtle. Both were out of this world. The chocolate was creamy, smooth, and not overly sweet. It was heavenly!


On this visit, Mom and I decided to pick up some usual favorites along with a few things that Mom used to have as a kid, but I had never tried. We bought smooth and melty mints (a pastel nonpareil with a creamy mint taste), Ice Cubes (my father's favorite), Airheads (my sister's favorite), Mint Juleps (a mint-flavored square taffy), and Marshmallow Ice Cream Cones, which were absolutely delicious and looked just like a mini-replica of a real cone.


Billy's is kept very neat and clean, and the staff is very polite. The place is usually packed, but luckily for us there were only a few scattered customers during our visit, which was at around 2 p.m. The ready-made packages that the staff create are beautiful, and they've really taken the time to make a plain store interior into something that's quite attractive. Mom and I took our goodies up to the front counter to pay for them. While we were there, we saw these homemade "Deviled Eggs," which were actually white chocolates made into the shape of deviled eggs. They looked so real! Here is a rundown of our receipt:

$2.99 - smooth & melty mints

4.78 - Ice Cubes (2 @ 2.39 ea.)

1.30 - Ice Cream Cones (2 @ .65 ea.)

1.99 - Mint Julep

1.49 - Airheads

Subtotal - $12.55

Tax - 0.00

TOTAL = $12.55

For a big bag of candy, that wasn't much. Mom and I bid farewell to the cashier and walked to the car. During our Saturday outing, we periodically reached into our goody bag to munch on an Ice Cream cone or a Mint Julep. Everything was delicious, and we can't wait to go back for more. Billy Boy Candies is a fantastic place to stock up on all your holiday and everyday treats, and to reacquaint yourself with some of your edible childhood favorites.

Harry and David

www.harryanddavid.com

I've heard about this place for years, but I'd never had the opportunity to visit a store. On a trip a couple of years ago to Maine, Laura and I finally got to go to a Harry and David store. I love this place! It's full of gourmet snacks and treats and the ones we chose were absolutely delicious. We picked out some chocolate-covered blueberries, chocolate-covered macadamia nuts, and three different varieties of their famous Moose Munch. In case you don't know what Moose Munch is, it's kind of like a popcorn/nuts/chocolate confection that is sometimes drizzled with other flavors, like peanut butter, and is outstanding. They're also famous for their fruit baskets and their cheesecakes, but we didn't want to lug any of those back to Massachusetts. We liked the place so much that I signed up to get their catalog. Whenever I run across a store that sells Harry and David products, I always pick up some Moose Munch.

Godiva Chocolatier

Believe it or not, I only recently really tasted Godiva chocolates. I may have had one or two over the years, but I had never really sat down and enjoyed a few. Boy, I didn't know what I was missing! Younger daughter Mallory recently received a box of assorted Godiva chocolates for her going away party (new job). Since she's not much of a chocolate eater, she put them out for the family to enjoy. As I helped myself to one ... then two ... then three ... I was pleasantly surprised by the rich, chocolaty taste, and the smooth, creamy texture of this fine chocolate. Each chocolate had a different filling, and the fillings were smooth and creamy - most being truffle-like. What amazed me about the chocolate was that it was not overtly sweet, which I detest. Because of the sweetness, most chocolates - if I have more than two - affect the back of my throat and I start coughing. This didn't happen with the Godivas. I could have eaten the whole box! I have to say, I was really impressed and I don't know why I hadn't really tried them sooner. It's not like they haven't been around forever!!! Despite the high price, I will definitely be buying some of these chocolates.

Lindt Chocolate

www.lindt.com

I don't know why I love Lindt chocolates so much. It's either because they're delicious, or they're so cute. I think both. They have all flavors of truffles, which come shaped like a little ball with a nice, soft center. Their flavors include peanut butter, dark-light-white chocolate, mint, hazelnut, amaretto, cookies and cream, and many more. I usually buy a bag of assorted whenever I'm near a Lindt shop. For the price, you get quite a nice bag full of chocolates. When I bring them home, everyone's little face lights up. They're usually wrapped pretty enough to put out for the holidays or any special occasion. They have a lot of other chocolate treats like bars and other candies, but I'm hooked on the truffles. They're delicious and fun to eat. Buy some!!

Dorothy Cox Chocolates

115 Huttleston Ave.

Fairhaven, MA 02719

(508) 996-2465
www.dorothycox.com

Dorothy Cox is a lovely little sweet shop on Route 6 in Fairhaven, MA. Although not very big, they manage to cram a lot of goodies into this little place. The place itself, and all the candies, are decorated beautifully. You can buy chocolates by the pound or gift boxes ready made. They have all manner of chocolate covered berries, nuts, and even pretzels and potato chips! They also have an assortment of homemade fudge and a selection of sugar-free chocolates. They're done up beautifully for each holiday, and they have seasonal candies to go with each. The candy here is very, very good. What I like about it is that it is chocolate and rich, instead of being sicky sweet. I love going here to pick up a treat or two, like the chocolate covered macadamia nuts, chocolate covered blueberries, and my favorite - jumbo cashews. I look forward to going here again. If you need a nice gift for someone, and they have a sweet tooth, this is the place to go.

Newport Fudgery

168 Thames St.

Newport, RI 02840

(401) 842-6990

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359 Thames St.

Newport, RI 02840

(401) 849-2228
www.newportfudgery.com

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This tiny fudge shop is squeezed between two stores on busy Thames Street in Newport, RI. They also have a second location on the same street a little farther up. I'm very leery about fudge because most of it is way too sweet, but this one is different. Of course it's sweet - it's fudge - but it's got more of a creaminess to it. You don't actually taste the sugar granules when you're biting into it. They have a lot of interesting flavors like penuche, peanut butter, maple walnut, vanilla nut, chocolate chip mint, and more. They also carry a line of chocolates like a huge peanut butter cup, a huge Hershey Kiss, and some delicious looking nut bars. We usually just get the fudge. So if you're ever taking in the sights in Newport, stop by and get yourself a nice treat. You won't be sorry.

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory

Fuzziwig's Candy Factory