A candy-making course eventually led to a chocolate business that has lasted around 90 years. That’s an impressive outcome for what began as one woman’s interest in learning how to make sweets.
The New Hampshire confectionery traces its beginnings to Evangeline Hurlburt, whose passion for candy making helped establish a business that became a local tradition. Over the decades, its selection has grown to include handcrafted chocolates, boxed assortments, and specialty confections.
I love how a skill learned in a class can develop into something that generations of customers enjoy.
You can browse chocolate treats, choose gifts for special occasions, or simply pick out something sweet for yourself. The long history adds another layer to the experience, connecting today’s creations with the company’s beginnings.
And I think the sweetest part of the story is how far that original candy-making lesson traveled.
One Boston Candy Class Started Everything
Some careers start with a big plan. Van Otis Chocolates started with a Fanny Farmer candy-making course in Boston.
Evangeline Hasiotis finished that course and opened her business in the fall of 1935. Her first shop was very small and sat in the same building as her family’s apartment in Manchester.
The store had no real name back then. Neighbors just called it the candy store, which honestly feels charming and very New England.
Things changed in 1958. Evangeline bought property and moved the shop to the corner of Chestnut and Cedar Street.
That move came with a brand-new identity. She and her coworkers picked the name Van Otis, built from pieces of her first and last name.
Say Evangeline Hasiotis quickly a few times. You can hear exactly where Van Otis came from.
I love that the name came from a team decision. It shows the shop already felt like a little family by then.
Evangeline stayed devoted to her chocolate for sixty years. She worked at it until 1995, which is a level of dedication most of us can’t match with a gym membership.
Her story is the heart of every box. Knowing it makes each piece taste a bit more meaningful.
The 1959 Fudge That Still Runs The Show
Forget everything you know about grainy, crumbly fudge. Evangeline created Van Otis Swiss Fudge in 1959, and it plays by its own rules.
The shop describes it as silky-smooth and meant to melt in your mouth. Traditional American fudge is denser and grainier, so this one feels like a different treat entirely.
That difference matters. If you expect a chewy brick, the texture might surprise you in the best way.
The company calls it world famous and New Hampshire’s favorite since 1959. They also say it’s often imitated and never equaled, which is a bold claim to print on a fudge.
Still, any recipe that survives more than sixty years is doing something right. Trends come and go, but this fudge keeps showing up at holidays and birthdays.
Flavors stretch beyond plain chocolate too. Peanut butter Swiss fudge is one variety that has fans of its own.
My advice is simple. Try the classic first, then branch out once you understand what makes it special.
It also makes a smart gift. Fudge travels well in a nice box, and the backstory gives you something fun to share when you hand it over.
A 12,000-Square-Foot Home For Chocolate On Elm Street
Every great candy story needs a proper headquarters. In 2002, the business moved to 341 Elm Street, Manchester, NH 03101, and it’s been there ever since.
The building got a serious makeover for the move. It was converted to hold a retail store, a large candy kitchen upstairs, and warehouse space.
The numbers are impressive. The whole facility covers 12,000 square feet, with 5,000 square feet devoted to the candy kitchen alone.
That means the chocolate you buy downstairs was made just a staircase away. Shopping where the candy is actually crafted feels a lot more personal than grabbing a bar at a gas station.
Plan for those stairs, by the way. There are steps up into the shop and more steps to reach the kitchen area.
Downtown Elm Street also makes the stop easy to fold into a bigger day in Manchester. Pair it with a stroll, some errands, or a little antique hunting nearby.
The shop is open Monday through Saturday and closed on Sundays. Saturdays wrap up earlier, so don’t leave your fudge run for late afternoon.
Honestly, a building this size dedicated to candy is reason enough to visit.
Your Chocolate Box Can Be Anything You Want
Choices, choices. The cases here hold chocolate-covered creams, jellies, fruits, nougats, caramels, turtles, patties, and gourmet truffles.
That lineup covers nearly every kind of chocolate fan. Fruity, chewy, nutty, or rich, there’s a corner of the case calling your name.
Cream-filled chocolates are a big part of the tradition. The shop itself points to its creams, jellies, and Swiss Fudge as local favorites for generations.
Turtles deserve a moment too. Pecans, caramel, and chocolate together are basically a group hug in candy form.
Every piece is handcrafted on-site using traditional methods. That’s a lot of careful work hiding inside one small box.
Here’s a practical tip. Building a mixed box lets you test new flavors without committing to a pound of something you’ve never tried.
Freshly roasted cashews also share the spotlight. They’re a nice pick for anyone who prefers salty to sweet.
Keep an eye out for seasonal treats as well. Trendy items like Dubai chocolate have joined the lineup, proving a 90-year-old shop can still try new tricks.
Go in with a plan, or don’t. Wandering the case is half the fun.
Sneak Upstairs On A Behind-The-Scenes Tour
Curious what happens above the shop? Guided tours open the doors to the chocolate facility and kitchen.
You get a real look at how the candy gets made. It’s the closest most of us will come to a Willy Wonka moment, minus the chocolate river.
The kitchen upstairs is the same 5,000-square-foot space where the shop’s handcrafted pieces come to life. Seeing it helps explain why everything takes time and skill.
Tours suit families, curious foodies, and anyone who reads ingredient labels for fun. Kids especially tend to love seeing where the treats come from.
A little planning helps here. Tours run on a schedule rather than every day, so check ahead before you show up expecting one.
Remember the stairs too. The kitchen sits a floor above the retail space.
I like that a shop with this much history still lets people peek behind the curtain. It shows real pride in the work.
It also changes how you shop afterward. Once you’ve seen the process, that box of creams downstairs looks a lot more impressive.
Bonus points if you end the tour by heading straight to the counter. That’s just good planning.
Roll Up Your Sleeves And Make Your Own Truffles
Watching is nice, but making is better. Van Otis offers hands-on chocolate-making classes for both kids and adults.
Participants create their own confections and take them home. That’s a pretty great souvenir, assuming it survives the car ride.
The class lineup changes with the seasons. Past options have included Chocolate Bark, Rolled Truffles, Dipped Apples, and Dubai Bars.
Dipped apples in fall just make sense. Rolled truffles feel fancy, yet they’re surprisingly friendly for beginners.
Kids’ classes make a fun outing for birthdays or school breaks. Little hands get messy, and nobody complains about the cleanup when it tastes this good.
Grown-ups get their own fun too, with sessions playfully called Chocolate Happy Hours. Think of it as a night out where the main event is candy.
A quick tip helps here. Classes have limited spots, so sign up early, especially around holidays.
I believe this is one of the best ways to connect with the shop’s story. Evangeline learned her craft in a class, and now visitors can do the same.
That full-circle detail is hard to beat. It makes the whole experience feel personal.
A Century-Old Popcorn Legacy Found A New Home
Chocolate isn’t the only old-school treat in the building. In 2020, Van Otis acquired the assets of Hutchinson’s Candy, a New Hampshire staple since 1904.
That’s right, a 1904 brand joined forces with a 1935 brand. Combined, that’s a lot of candy history under one roof.
Van Otis now produces Hutchinson’s Popcorn under its Evangeline’s brand. The name honors the founder, which feels like the perfect fit.
Popcorn brings a fun balance to the chocolate cases. Sometimes you want something light and crunchy instead of rich and creamy.
Evangeline’s line includes treats like seaside kettle corn. It’s a handy add-on for movie nights or gift baskets.
I like how this move kept a beloved local name from fading away. Old recipes deserve keepers, and this shop clearly understands that.
It also says something about the company’s role in the state. Van Otis isn’t just preserving its own past, it’s protecting other pieces of New Hampshire food history too.
Grab a bag next time you visit. Pair it with a chocolate bar for the ultimate sweet and salty snack plan.
New Hampshire Keeps Handing It Trophies
Trophies tend to pile up around here. Van Otis Chocolates has been recognized again and again as New Hampshire’s Best Chocolatier.
The shop has proudly shared a running count of wins over the years. Its latest numbers point to more than twenty years of this honor.
That kind of streak doesn’t happen by luck. It takes consistent quality, year after year, batch after batch.
The recognition goes beyond state lines too. In 2025, the company received the RCI Grand Confectioner’s Award.
For candy makers, that’s a big deal. It’s an industry honor, so fellow pros are the ones paying attention.
Ownership has changed over the decades, yet the standards stayed. Brothers-in-law David Quinn and Frank Bettencourt bought the business in 1998, then local entrepreneur Marc Amiet took over in 2008.
Marc Amiet remains the sole owner today. Under his leadership, the shop has grown while keeping Evangeline’s recipes at the center.
Awards are fun, but the real proof is simpler. A shop doesn’t last nearly ninety years unless people keep coming back for more.
Consider the trophy shelf a friendly nudge. It’s hard to argue with that track record.
Perfect Gifts For Bosses, Grandmas, And Picky Friends
Stuck on a gift idea again? Chocolate solves that problem faster than a gift card, and it feels far more thoughtful.
Van Otis offers gift baskets and custom assortments for all kinds of occasions. Businesses can even order custom logo bars, which is a clever way to say thank you.
Corporate gifting has become a growing part of the company. Many local businesses lean on it for holiday orders and client thank-yous.
Special diets get attention too. The shop offers nut-free chocolates and sugar-free options, so more people can join the fun.
That’s a big help when shopping for a group. Nobody likes being the one person who can’t enjoy the treat.
Online ordering works for faraway friends. Still, visiting in person lets you hand-pick every piece.
Want to spread the love farther north? A second store opened at 15 South Main Street in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, in May 2021.
The Manchester flagship remains the heart of it all, though. That’s where the kitchen hums and the story began.
Evangeline started with one class and a tiny shop. Nearly ninety years later, her chocolate still shows up wherever people celebrate.
