Sweet day for Sarris
Canonsburg chocolatier celebrates new factory
CANONSBURG – Wednesday’s sweltering heat didn’t melt the high spirits – or the chocolates – at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Sarris Candies’ new factory store in Canonsburg to celebrate its opening.
More than 100 Sarris employees, local and county officials, Canonsburg residents, and Sarris mascots Franky Twist and Coco the Chocolate Bar gathered near a giant-sized cut-out of a box of the company’s renowned chocolate- covered pretzels to celebrate the official opening of the 17,000-square-foot production space, where the peanut butter meltaways, pecanettes, and other confections are made.
“It is a sweet day, and for me, this is dangerous because I love chocolate, especially Sarris chocolate,” said Canonsburg Borough Council President Eric Chandler. “To the Sarris family, thank you. Your family has been the center of this community for years, and this venture turns Canonsburg into a destination.”
Five generations of the Sarris family – including President and CEO Bill Sarris, whose late father, Frank Sarris, launched the candy company in 1960, Sarris’ mother, Athena, 95, wearing a signature pink pantsuit, and Sarris’ youngest grandson, 6 – turned out for the dedication.
“On behalf of the Sarris family, thank you for coming to celebrate this time with us,” said Bill Sarris, 73, who said he has long been committed to expanding the business in his hometown.
The new Sarris store, at 135 Meadow Lane in Canonsburg – formerly the Fort Pitt Bridgeworks, a historic steel-fabricating plant – will offer factory tours to the public starting July 6.
The tours, which will provide chocolate enthusiasts a behind-the-scenes look at the Canonsburg candy company’s manufacturing process through large picture windows, can be booked online now.
The original factory site, which houses the ice cream parlor and the iconic 1,500-pound chocolate castle complete with flowing chocolate waterfalls, is located at nearby Adams Avenue.
Among those who attended were members of the Washington County Board of Commissioners. Chairman Nick Sherman joked during the ribbon-cutting that Sarris Candies “has been ruining diets” while “making Canonsburg great for decades.”
“The fact that you wanted to stay here in Canonsburg is such a great example of how much you guys give back to our (borough and our county. We’re so lucky to have you. This is the sweetest place in Washington County, and we’re happy to have you here,” said Sherman.
When tours officially launch next week, it will be the first time in the company’s 66-year history that visitors get to see how Sarris chocolates are made.
“We really haven’t changed anythin. We’ve been making (chocolates) the same way, using the same recipes, doing everything we’ve always done, and I think that will surprise people more than anything else,” said Sarris. “We look forward to getting people in who have never been to Canonsburg, or who have never gotten to see what we do. There are people who don’t get to see the behind-the-scenes of what’s going on, and our history. This building we’re in has so much history, and people will learn about that when they visit. We’re looking forward to that, and our employees are enjoying that as well.”
Following the ribbon-cutting, visitors headed inside the factory – which has a Willy Wonka vibe of sorts – where a stacked Sarris chocolate-covered pretzels sculpture stands near a spiral staircase that leads to the mezzanine level.
The factory includes television monitors that show educational videos about the history of Sarris Candies and the chocolate-making process. A collection of chocolate candy molds are placed throughout the factory, and whimsical chocolate-themed merchandise including baby bibs and T-shirts are available for purchase.
The public tours will be available three times a day, with a maximum of 15 people per tour, Monday through Friday, at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m. Private group tours for as many as 40 people are available, and advance reservations for both can be made at sarriscandies.com.
Sarris said opening the factory has “been emotional,” and the ribbon-cutting was a significant moment.
“I’ve wanted to do this for a long time. It has taken years of planning to get it done, and having the support of everyone in the community has meant a lot,” said Sarris. “There has been a lot of history here. The opportunity is here to create more of it, and I hope we do.”