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Operating since 1891, Schimpff’s Confectionery is one of the longest-running old-fashioned candy store of its kind in the United States. As far as candy businesses go, this family-owned candy business has gone through lots of development over the years. However, they have never lowered the standard of quality services they are known to offer their clients and customers.
The operation of this business started with Gustav Schimpff Sr. and his son Gustav Jr. The present and original location it now operates from was the very starting point of an adventure no one believed would still be offering mouth-watering services to this day.
The Old Fashioned Candy Store
Seated in the historic downtown district of Jeffersonville, Schimpff’s Confectionery provides an experience of a time machine. Walking in will see you being greeted by a traditional tin ceiling and also a 50’s soda fountain. It also features some old-time candy jars and cookie pots. What you will experience the moment you entire are those days spending time with your grandparents on the farm and away from the urban. There is nothing better than some good ol’ homemade candies…and this is exactly what Schimpff’s Confectionery offers.
Old Time Candy
The candies of old can also be admired from their Candy Museum and Candy Decoration Area nestled amidst an attractive setting in their old-fashioned candy jars. It outlines the whole process of traditional candy making, packaging, and advertising. It definitely has the electrifying power to take you back to your childhood days. Enjoy a free tour of the Museum and wander through history as we did!
My favorite piece was the vintage candy machine that whipped out a ton of different shapes at the same time. The precision dies work needed to line up the two pieces is incredible, and from a time before computer assistance.
The museum even houses a vintage candy dispenser that really works! Miss Sarah helped herself to a Toosie Roll for five cents. It is ingenious how it worked, the sections sliding down to reveal the yummies!
Sweet Shop
The Schimpff family coming down the years are all blessed with the gift of serving what the heart desires. They are famous for a lot of the treats but more so their cinnamon Red Hots, Candy Fish, and their Modjeska. They are always adding unique and amazing attraction to the way they prepare every delicacy especially with the most recent turtle-shaped chocolate, caramel, and pecan confections.
Red Hots Candy
We were able to catch a candy-making demonstration of Schimpff’s Confectionary famous cinnamon candy in their candy demonstration area! Quite the production, and the best part? The commentary of the long-running partners: Warren Schimpff and Jill Schimpff.
They make the “lesson” both fun and informative, at the same time as they demonstrate the vintage candy-making century-old equipment that is still lovingly used, in a time that so many places have modernized. You can really taste the care and effort in the final product by a historic candy maker.. After getting the candy mix to the right temperature, Warren pours it on the special mixing table.
When it is just right, he adds the cinnamon flavoring and we learn that it is $50 a bottle. A little goes a long way…
Eventually, the candy is shaped through the roller and then broken apart. Delicious samples are then shared with the audience to conclude the demonstration. They are still using the vintage equipment – for amazing results!
Schimpff’s Confectionary
The location offers modern-day features and amenities such as online order forms and email or fax service to convey your orders. They also offer the option to buy candy from their online store with delivery or personal pick-up services. No matter what you desire to purchase, they offer you the option to virtually do this if it is hard for you to stop in.
Aside from the candy services, you can also experience and enjoy their additional services. They offer a quality dining service in their lunch room which includes a weekday 11:00 am – 3:00 pm lunch service, and 11:00 am – 2:00 pm on Saturdays. You can enjoy from their menu which is certainly not limited to soda fountain treats like malts, sandwiches, milkshakes, sodas, and cakes as well as sundaes.
It is similar to stepping back to an old-fashioned diner of the late ’50s or early ’60s. Simple and tasty fare before everything became fusion or upscaled with a friendly staff. Everything is a la carte, just like it was back in the day. We enjoyed a chicken salad sandwich, sloppy joes, hearty beef barley soup, and bottomless fountain Cokes, me being the one who tried a Chocolate Coke!
Pressed Penny Fans? Have no fear, the good people at Schimpff’s Confectionery have you covered. Miss Sarah whipped out her fifty-one cents and added another penny to her collection!
Traveling to the Southern Indiana or even Northern Kentucky areas anytime soon and need a taste of America’s candy history? Then Schimpff’s Confectionery old fashioned candy store in the Old Jeffersonville Historic District is the only place for this experience. Their staff is ready and willing to entice you and leave your taste buds yearning for more. It’s more than candiliciously amazing and the tasty treats of the confectionery store are worth it!
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