The History of Sweetness

Customers both young and young at heart have been buzzing about our collection of retro candy. 

If you visit our Patisserie you will find an assortment of sweet things to treat your tongue and your nostalgic spirit to your hearts delight. Some of the candy we offer is hard to find elsewhere and we love hearing the stories from our patrons recalling their past memories of these remarkable vintage treats.

Here are some of our favorites, and a little history lesson of their beginnings.

A Squirrel Nut Zipper is a delicious vanilla nut caramel that was first introduced in 1926 by the Squirrel Brand Company whose primary products are nuts. Squirrel Brand's managers developed the formula for a vanilla nut caramel to complement their chocolate caramel candy. The Squirrel Nut Zipper name originated from a Prohibition-era illegal drink. Legend has it that a Vermont man, arrested for public intoxication, blamed his "crazy" behavior on "some local hooch he referred to as 'that dang nut zipper.'" The new "crazy candy concoction" created by the Squirrel Brand Company was named for the drink.

Zotz are an Italian made candy that were first introduced into the US in 1968.  It is a hardy candy that contains a sour powder inside. When the powder dissolves, it reacts with liquid to produce carbon dioxide bubbles and a fizzing sensation. Many fans of the Zotz candies remember playing pranks with these fizzy surprises as a kid. Zotz flavors include apple, cherry, watermelon, lemon, grape, and orange.

The Mary Jane is a peanut butter and molasses flavored taffy candy with peanut butter in the center, originally made in 1914 by The Charles N. Miller Co. Charles Miller himself named this bite-size delight for his favorite aunt, Mary Jane. Believe it or not, Mary Jane's are dairy-free, egg-free, and gluten-free.

Chick-O-Stick is a peanut butter and coconut candy produced by Atkinson Candy Company that has been manufactured since the Great Depression. Chick-O-Stick's original wrapper featured a stylized cartoon of a chicken wearing a cowboy hat and a badge in the shape of the Atkinson logo. The chicken is absent from the more recent wrapper; it is speculated that it contributed to confusion over whether the Chick-O-Stick was candy or a chicken-flavored cracker. The Atkinson Candy Company's website states that the company's founder "came up with the name one day, and well, it just stuck." The company had once written in correspondence that they felt the Chick-O-Stick "resembled fried chicken" and that contributed to the name.

Candy cigarettes were a candy introduced in the early 20th century made out of chalky sugar substance, and shaped to resemble cigarettes. Their place on the market has long been controversial because many critics believe the candy desensitizes children, leading them to become smokers later in life. Because of this, the selling of candy cigarettes has been banned in several countries such as Finland, Norway, the Ireland, and Turkey. The U.S. state of North Dakota enacted a ban on candy cigarettes from 1953 until 1967.

Black Jack Gum is a licorice-flavored gum, made in a single batch every few years by the Cadbury Adams Company. In 1871, Adams received a patent on a gum-making machine and began mass-producing chicle-based gum. His first product was pure chicle with no flavoring, but sold well enough to encourage Adams in his plans to create the perfect gum. He began to experiment with flavorings, beginning with sarsaparilla. In 1884, he began adding liquorice flavoring and called his invention Adams' Black Jack, the first flavored gum in the U.S. It was also the first gum to be offered in sticks.

What are your taste buds telling you?!

All these candies and more are available for purchase in our Patisserie. Indulge your sweet tooth and re-taste your past with our diverse collection of retro candies!