Classic Towns News

Looking for a decadent treat to impress that special someone? Then don’t reach for the same old box of chocolate at your local drugstore. There’s still time to discover the one of the Classic Towns’ many sweet spots. From world-class chocolatiers and national producers to fourth-generation family confectioners, there’s something for every taste and budget.

Éclat Chocolate in West Chester
Operated by world-renowned master chocolatier Christopher Curtin, Éclat in West Chester offers a selection of gourmet truffles, assorted chocolates, caramels, and other treats. For the connoisseur, Curtin crafts Fortunato No. 4 truffles out of Pure Nacional beans, an exceptionally rare variety of cocoa that was the mainstay of historical chocolate recipes until it nearly went extinct in the early 1900s. Other new lines of “wine lover’s” and “beer lover’s” truffles accentuate the pairing of chocolate with these fine beverages, and feature fillings infused with champagne, shiraz, and beers from Chester County’s own Victory Brewing Company. Learn more.

Sweet Tooth Candy Shop in Collingswood
Owner Laurie Cohen describes Sweet Tooth Candy Shop as “Not so much a candy store, as it is a living room with candy in it.” For first-time visitors, that treatment includes unlimited free samples of Sweet Tooth’s inventory, which boasts original confections manufactured on-site as well as a variety of time-tested national brands. For Cohen, who operated the store from its founding in 2002 until 2009, the atmosphere of downtown Collingswood was a major factor in her decision to come out of retirement and re-open.

Aunt Charlotte’s Candies in Merchantville
To see how a chocolate shop can become a community institution, one must make their way to nearby Merchantville, where Aunt Charlotte’s Candies has been churning out confections since 1920. The Classic Towns Times visited Aunt Charlotte’s this December, when it was buzzing with crowds of holiday shoppers seeking its famous assorted chocolates, brittles, candies, and seasonal favorites. There, we found Charles Brooks Oakford Jr., who took over the shop from his father in 1945, still greeting customers while his children and grandchildren worked behind the counter. Although business has grown over the years, chocolates are still made on the premises, and customers can get a behind-the-scenes look at the process with a tour of the second-story factory. Learn more.

Asher’s Chocolates in Souderton-Telford
While the Classic Towns are home to a number of small producers, they also offer the opportunity to witness chocolate making on a grand scale. As the “oldest continuously family-owned confection company in the United States,” Souderton-Telford’s Asher’s Chocolates is one of the foremost names in Greater Philadelphia’s confectionary history. Founded in 1892, the company began with a store in downtown Philadelphia and a small production facility in Germantown. Nowadays, visitors can tour the company’s modern factory and purchase Asher’s famous assortments, chocolate-covered pretzels, and sugar-free chocolates at the on-site candy store. Learn more.

Of course the Classic Towns are choc full of chocolate and candy shops. Here are a few more places you can satisfy your sweet tooth.

Ambler
Corner Chocolates
95 E. Butler Avenue, Ambler, PA 19002

Ardmore
Sweet Stuff in Ardmore
120 Coulter Avenue, Ardmore, PA 19003

Collingswood
Grooveground Hot Chocolate Bar
647 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood, NJ 08108

Sweet Tooth Candy Shop
742 Haddon Avenue, Suite 1, Collingswood, NJ 08108

Haddon Heights
Chocolate Heaven
533 Station Avenue, Haddon Heights, NJ 08035

Lansdale
Bergin’s Chocolates
2634 Morris Rd., Lansdale, PA 19446

Manayunk
Dairyland Ice Cream and Chocolates
4409 Main Street, Philadelphia, PA 19127
 
Media
Bevan’s Own Make Candy
143 East Baltimore Avenue, Media, PA

Merchantville
Aunt Charlotte’s Candies
5 West Maple Avenue, Merchantville, NJ

New Hope
Pierre’s Chocolates
360 West Bridge Street, New Hope, PA 18938

Country Fair Chocolates
93 S Main St., New Hope, PA 18938

Phoenixville
Bridge Street Chocolates
158 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, PA 19460

Souderton-Telford
Asher’s Chocolates
80 Wambold Road, Souderton, PA 18964

Penn Street Chocolates
(Sold at Main Street Java in Souderton, Urban Fusion in Skippack, and by psc [dot] philly [at] yahoo [dot] com)

West Chester
Éclat Chocolate
24 South High St., West Chester, PA 19382