Oh, how sweet it is!
Sarris Candies to open factory store, offer guided tours
Chocolate lovers soon will be able to see up-close how Sarris Candies makes its famous confections – the chocolate-covered pretzels, peanut butter meltaways, and hard cap ice cream topping that generations have enjoyed.
On June 1, the Canonsburg candy store will open the Sarris Candies Factory, where visitors can take part in guided tours to get a behind-the-scenes look at the candy-making process.
The location – formerly the historic Fort Pitt Bridge Works, which sits about a mile from the iconic candy shop and ice cream parlor – will feature both a retail store where visitors can shop for handcrafted chocolates, favorite treats, and gifts, and production space.
The new factory store, at 135 Meadow Lane, will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, following the June 1 grand opening.
“The opening of our factory store is an exciting next step for Sarris Candies,” said Bill Sarris, president and CEO, in a press release. “For more than 60 years, families have made Sarris part of their celebrations, traditions, and everyday moments. This new space gives us another way to welcome customers, offer their favorite treats in a new setting, and continue growing right here in the community where our story began.”
The candy store was started by founder Frank Sarris, who gifted his sweetheart, Athena, a handmade box of chocolates – the start of a candy making legacy.
Its original chocolate factory houses a giant 1,500-pound chocolate castle, a wide variety of chocolates, penny candy, and plush toys, while the ice cream parlor features old-fashioned booths and crystal chandeliers where visitors can enjoy a variety of in-house made ice cream.
The 45-minute factory tours – which will begin on Monday, July 6 – will provide visitors with a closer look at the candy-making process from an elevated mezzanine inside the new, 130,000-foot production facility.
Tour reservations will be available to book online at SarrisCandies.com beginning Monday, June 1.
“With the addition of guided tours, guests will soon have the opportunity to learn more about our history, our process, and the care that goes into every piece of chocolate we make,” Sarris added. “We’re proud to continue growing in Canonsburg and to create a destination that brings people closer to the Sarris Candies experience.”
The cost of tours is $10 for adults and $8 for children ages 3 to 12. Children 2 and under are free.
Sarris Candies, which began in 1960, sells its sweet treats at about 1,200 retail shops and locations across more than 17 states.