PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Shane Confectionery has been making candy in Old City since 1863, maintaining original recipes and century-old traditions while shipping its confections across the country.
“It is the oldest continuously operating confectionery in the United States, which means candy has been made in this building for the longest unbreakable amount of time,” said Pavia Burroughs.
The shop has had four owners over its history, but some traditions remain unchanged.
“We still use the same family recipe that the Shane family did. We also are still making it on the same machine, which is a cream beater from like the 1819,” Burroughs said.
The shop also makes chocolate from cacao beans, roasting and grinding them locally.
“We actually make our own chocolate from the beans. So, we’re making it more intricate than I would say some other chocolate shops are who are purchasing the chocolate as the product you are familiar with,” Burroughs said.
While the confectionery originally sold bulk chocolate, fruits and nuts, its current selection includes chocolates, caramels and seasonal treats.
Chocolates and caramels remain its most popular sellers, while Halloween offerings include Peanut Butter Praline SEPTA Rats and Galvani’s Electric Frogs.
The shop continues to attract generations of customers. “And we have people still that have come here since they were like kids and they are now in their eighties,” Burroughs said.
Its history also resonates with customers far beyond Philadelphia. “We always get delighted when people will like email us out of the blue. They’ve seen us on TV. They live in like Arizona, and they’re like, Oh my God, my grandma used to come here. I used to go there,” Burroughs said. “And yeah, it always, always warms our heart. And we love hearing those family stories.”
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