St. Louis has a long candy-making tradition, with everything from century-old confectioners and old-fashioned soda fountains to artisan chocolate boutiques and warehouse-style candy stores. Whether you want handmade chocolates, nostalgic sweets, bulk candy, caramel apples, or a gift box for a special occasion, the St. Louis area offers plenty of places worth visiting.
Here are some of the best candy stores in St. Louis, Missouri, and nearby communities.
1. Crown Candy Kitchen
Address: 1401 St. Louis Ave, St. Louis, MO 63106
Crown Candy Kitchen is one of the most recognizable sweet spots in St. Louis. The historic shop combines an old-fashioned soda fountain, restaurant, ice cream counter, and confectionery under one roof.
Its candy counter features house-made chocolates and classic confections such as caramels, chocolate-covered cherries, nut clusters, nonpareils, molasses puffs, almond toffee, and assorted chocolate boxes. The shop is also well known for its thick malts, milkshakes, sundaes, and homemade-style ice cream.
The nostalgic atmosphere makes Crown Candy Kitchen particularly appealing to visitors who want more than a quick candy purchase. You can grab lunch, order an oversized malt, and pick up chocolates to take home.
Best for: Handmade chocolates, nostalgic candy, malts, milkshakes, ice cream, and a classic St. Louis experience.
2. Merb's Candies
Address: 4000 S. Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63118
Merb's Candies has served St. Louis since 1921 and remains a popular destination for traditional handmade chocolates. The family-operated confectioner produces its candy in small batches using recipes that have been part of the business for generations.
One of Merb's signature treats is the Bionic Apple, a large caramel apple covered in caramel and pecans. Chocolate-covered strawberries are another popular choice, especially around Valentine's Day.
Visitors can also shop for assorted chocolate boxes, caramels, chocolate nut clusters, turtles, fudge, and seasonal confections. If you're shopping for a holiday, birthday, anniversary, or other special occasion, the shop offers plenty of gift-worthy options.
Best for: Bionic Apples, chocolate-covered strawberries, handmade chocolates, caramel, and candy gifts.
3. General Candy Company
Address: 4800 Oleatha Ave, St. Louis, MO 63116
If sheer selection is what you want, General Candy Company deserves a place near the top of your list. The family-owned St. Louis business has operated since 1924, and its warehouse is open to the public.
Instead of a small boutique experience, you'll find a warehouse filled with candy, snacks, gum, mints, novelty sweets, candy bars, bagged candy, bulk candy, theater candy, and seasonal products.
General Candy Company is particularly useful when buying candy for birthday parties, weddings, graduations, school events, Halloween, parades, candy buffets, or other events that require larger quantities. It is also a fun stop for anyone searching for nostalgic or harder-to-find sweets.
Best for: Bulk candy, retro candy, candy bars, party candy, novelty sweets, and large selections.
4. Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company
Address: 6740 Chippewa St, St. Louis, MO 63109
Chocolate lovers have plenty to browse at Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company. The company operates several locations around the St. Louis area, including its original St. Louis Hills store on Chippewa Street.
The selection centers on artisan chocolates and traditional confections, including truffles, caramels, chocolate bars, chocolate-covered treats, gift boxes, and seasonal candy.
Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company also operates a factory store at 5025 Pattison Avenue, giving serious chocolate fans another St. Louis location to explore.
Whether you're buying a few pieces for yourself or assembling a gift, the selection makes this an easy stop for anyone who prefers chocolate over traditional packaged candy.
Best for: Artisan chocolate, truffles, caramels, chocolate gifts, and seasonal confections.
5. Bissinger's Handcrafted Chocolatier
Address: 5025 Pattison Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110
Bissinger's is one of the area's best-known names for premium chocolate. The company's Candy Kitchen is located on Pattison Avenue, while additional Bissinger's boutiques operate at Plaza Frontenac and the Saint Louis Galleria.
Bissinger's specializes in upscale chocolate assortments, truffles, caramels, specialty confections, and gift collections. The packaging and presentation also make its products especially suitable for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, corporate gifts, and other special occasions.
If you're searching for sophisticated chocolate rather than standard packaged candy, Bissinger's provides plenty of options.
Best for: Premium chocolate, truffles, caramels, gift boxes, and special occasions.
6. Kakao Chocolate
Address: 7272 Manchester Rd, Maplewood, MO 63143
Located just outside St. Louis in Maplewood, Kakao Chocolate focuses on small-batch handcrafted confections.
The chocolatiers make products from scratch in small batches, including truffles, caramels, chocolate bark, marshmallows, and other specialty sweets. Kakao's selection includes sea salt caramels, Missouri pecan bark, dark chocolate bark, peanut butter bark, chocolate-covered treats, and rotating specialty flavors.
Kakao is particularly appealing to adventurous chocolate lovers because many of its creations go beyond traditional candy-store flavors.
Best for: Small-batch chocolate, truffles, caramels, creative flavors, and artisan candy gifts.
7. How Sweet Is This – The Itsy Bitsy Candy Shoppe
Address: 804 De Mun Ave, Clayton, MO 63105
How Sweet Is This – The Itsy Bitsy Candy Shoppe offers the kind of candy-store experience that can bring back childhood memories.
Located in Clayton, the shop specializes in classic and nostalgic sweets. It's a fun destination for anyone who enjoys browsing old-school candy, colorful treats, and childhood favorites that aren't always easy to find at supermarkets.
The small neighborhood-shop atmosphere also makes it a good stop for families or visitors who enjoy discovering candy from different generations.
Best for: Nostalgic candy, retro sweets, childhood favorites, and family candy shopping.
8. Bijoux Handcrafted Chocolates
Address: 7930 Big Bend Blvd, Suite A, Webster Groves, MO 63119
Bijoux Handcrafted Chocolates in Webster Groves specializes in small-batch chocolates with an artistic presentation.
The boutique produces handcrafted bonbons, truffles, caramels, and other chocolate confections. Its focus on small-batch production makes it a strong choice for shoppers who enjoy trying chocolate flavors that differ from traditional mass-market candy.
Webster Groves also describes Bijoux as a local chocolate shop producing small-batch confections and using ingredients such as locally sourced pecans, honey, and coffee.
The elegant chocolates make especially good gifts, although it may be difficult to leave without buying a few pieces for yourself.
Best for: Handcrafted bonbons, artisan chocolate, creative flavors, caramels, and gifts.
Find Your Favorite Candy Store in St. Louis
St. Louis offers an impressive mix of candy shops. For an old-fashioned experience, Crown Candy Kitchen and Merb's Candies are excellent places to start. General Candy Company offers one of the broadest selections for bulk and nostalgic candy, while Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company and Bissinger's provide plenty of choices for serious chocolate fans.
A short trip outside the city adds even more options. Kakao Chocolate in Maplewood, How Sweet Is This in Clayton, and Bijoux Handcrafted Chocolates in Webster Groves each offer their own take on the classic candy-store experience.
Whether you're stocking up for a party, hunting for a childhood favorite, putting together a chocolate gift, or simply satisfying a sweet tooth, these St. Louis candy stores give you plenty of reasons to make a candy run.
