Visiting Virginia’s world-renowned candy shops will transport you back to a time when chocolate could fix all your troubles. From franchises selling boxes larger than most children to mom-and-pop shops that handcraft each confection with delicate care, traveling through Virginia has never been so sweet. Check out the 5 best candy stores in the state!
For the Love of Chocolate voted “Best Place to Buy Candy” in Richmond Magazine, offers Virginia-made chocolates as well as candy from around the world. The selection of retro and classic candies, fair trade brands, organic, kosher, vegan, and Leonidas is tremendous. Adventurous chocolatiers may want to try their spicy chocolate made with chipotle peppers, bacon chocolate, or Italian Absinthe candy.
The Candy Store in Roanoke, Virginia, is a delight to behold and to shop in. The 1,200 different kinds of candies presented in beautiful jars highlight the colors and exude an atmosphere that’s just plain fun. Bulk pricing is available so you can try an assortment of caramels, licorice, gumballs, chocolates, jellybeans, and taffies.
Red Rocker Candy in Troy, Virginia, sells hand-made and old-fashioned candies and chocolates baked on site. Watch the candy making process through a picture window, then peruse their massive selection of butter crunch-cashes, lemon’d OREO cookies, peanuts-butter toasted, and various gift baskets. Every April, Red Rocker Candy hosts their annual Car Show, “Cruise-In Jack’s Way,” showcasing classic cars, food, and music.
The Chocolate Spike is known for their hand-dipped, handcrafted chocolates, barks, truffles, caramel nut spikes, fudge, and cherry candies with unusual flavor combinations. Gift baskets are made to order, with seasonal treats available including caramel apples in the fall and Easter bunnies for the spring. Make sure to bring your sweet tooth, as most chocolates are sold by the pound.
Elaine Warfel Stauffer, owner of Warfel’s Sweet Shoppe, is a second-generation candy-maker who began selling homemade treats at age eleven. Almost 20 years later, in 1994, she opened Warfel’s where she still makes caramel turtles, chocolate crème truffles, pecan toffee, chili chocolate, Earl Grey bars, nut clusters, barks, salty logs, and more.