Five generations of one family have kept a handmade candy tradition alive for 109 years, using recipes passed down since 1917. Their signature butter toffee has survived changing tastes, economic shifts, and more than a century of American history.
Now the family has reached another milestone. Instead of simply preserving its past, the business has opened a new retail location just a short distance from its former store.
I love how this Ohio story combines an old-fashioned recipe with a fresh beginning. The family still makes its signature sweets by hand, even as it welcomes customers into a different setting.
The new shop gives longtime fans and curious travelers another reason to stop, with homemade fudge, chocolate treats, and nostalgic favorites carrying the family tradition forward. For a business approaching its 110th anniversary, that is an impressive new chapter.
The Butter Toffee Has Been Winning Hearts Since 1917
Some recipes get tweaked every few years until nobody remembers the original. The butter toffee at Coons Candy took the opposite route and has stayed true since the family business began in 1917.
That kind of loyalty to one recipe is rare. Most snacks from that era now exist only in old photos and grandma stories.
Toffee is the treat that put Coons Candy on the map for many Ohio families. It is rich, buttery, and crunchy, and it shows up again and again as the shop’s best-known item.
Some fans even mention that the box looks the same as it did decades ago. That is a pretty great trick for a candy company to pull off.
Here’s a smart tip for first-timers. Grab a box of toffee before you start wandering around the rest of the store.
Why start there? Because the rest of the shop is full of distractions, and you don’t want to leave without the signature treat.
Toffee also makes a solid gift because it travels well in a car. A box tucked in your bag can survive a long drive home much better than a melty chocolate bar.
If a recipe still works after more than a century, you probably shouldn’t argue with it. Just enjoy it.
Five Generations Have Kept This Candy Family Sweet
Keeping a family business going for five generations is a big deal. Plenty of companies don’t make it past the second, and Coons Candy has kept going since 1917.
That means great-great-grandkids are now part of a story that started before radio was common in homes. It’s a little like inheriting a sweet tooth along with the family name.
The family still signs its online replies as The Coons Family. That small detail says a lot about who is behind the counter and the candy.
A business like this isn’t run by a faraway company headquarters. It’s run by people who care about keeping the family name attached to good candy.
Staff friendliness comes up often when people talk about the shop. Free samples at the counter are also a happy part of the experience.
For kids, a visit here can be a fun mini history lesson. Ask them to guess how old the business is, then watch their faces when they hear 109 years.
I can’t imagine the number of birthdays, holidays, and road trips this family has sweetened. Every generation has added its own chapter.
And here’s the cool part. The newest chapter is still being written, which is not something you can say about most century-old shops.
You Will Want A Plan Before Facing The Fudge Case
Fudge is the most talked-about treat at Coons Candy, and it’s easy to see why. The case holds a lineup of flavors that can make choosing just one feel like a test.
Chocolate walnut is a classic option. Peanut butter chocolate fudge is another one that fans of Ohio’s favorite flavor combo will want to spot.
The fudge is sold in bricks, which is good news for sharing. It’s also good news if you have zero plans to share.
A smooth, soft texture is what people mention most. Nobody wants grainy fudge, and that’s clearly not the goal here.
So how do you pick? One easy method is to choose one classic flavor and one wild card you’ve never tried.
Another trick is to buy an extra brick for later. Fudge has a funny way of disappearing on the drive home, especially with kids in the backseat.
Fudge also makes a thoughtful thank-you gift. A teacher, neighbor, or coworker will probably appreciate it more than another coffee mug.
Just remember to keep it out of a hot car on summer days. Fudge is tough, but it isn’t that tough.
Bottom line: walk in with a plan. Then feel free to ignore that plan completely once you see the case.
Buckeyes, Turtles, And Clusters Fill The Chocolate Counter
In Ohio, buckeyes are basically a state food. Coons Candy makes sure these peanut butter and chocolate bites have a spot in the lineup.
They look like the nut from the Ohio buckeye tree. Thankfully, these taste way better than the real thing, which you definitely should not eat.
The chocolate counter goes well beyond buckeyes. Pecan turtles, peanut clusters, cashew clusters, and butter creams all make an appearance.
Chocolate-covered pretzels are a hit for anyone who likes salty and sweet together. Chocolate-dipped Oreos are another fun pick for kids and grown-up kids alike.
Fans of dark chocolate have options too. Raspberry dark chocolate and dark chocolate strawberry creams are some of the flavors people have picked up here.
An assortment bag is a clever way to sample a bit of everything. It’s like a candy taste test you can hold in one hand.
Around Easter, solid chocolate bunnies join the party. Some families even make a yearly stop just to fill holiday baskets.
My advice? Mix one familiar favorite with something new in every bag.
That way, you get comfort and adventure in the same trip. Nobody ever complained about leaving a candy shop with too many good choices.
Save Room In Your Trunk For The Gift Shop Finds
Candy is the star, but it isn’t the only thing on the shelves. Coons Candy has a full gift shop that catches many first-time visitors off guard.
You’ll find old tin signs, wind chimes, and yard decor. There are also locally made kitchen utensils and home decor items.
Bakers, take note of the cookie cutters. Unique shapes at friendly prices make them an easy grab for holiday baking.
Jams and local honey sit on the shelves too. Those make great add-ons when you’re building a gift basket for someone special.
Thirsty after all that sugar? The shop also offers cold drinks, including soda, which pairs nicely with a road trip snack.
Beef jerky is another surprise find. It’s a smart choice for the person in your car who claims they “don’t really do sweets.”
This mix makes the store a handy one-stop shop for gifts. Birthdays, holidays, and hostess presents can all be handled in one quick visit.
Give yourself extra time to browse. The gift shop can easily double the length of your stop.
Honestly, that’s part of the charm. Coons Candy feels like a country store with a serious sweet tooth.
Road Trippers On US 23 Have A Sweet Reason To Exit
The drive between Columbus and Toledo can feel endless. Flat fields roll by, and the backseat starts asking how much longer.
That’s where Coons Candy comes in. The shop sits near US 23, making it an easy on-and-off stop for drivers heading north or south.
You’ll find the newly relocated store at 16451 County Road 113 in Harpster, Ohio. The new location sits approximately a quarter-mile north of the former shop, along the U.S.
Route 23 service road.
Families coming home from Hocking Hills often make it a regular stop. Travelers heading toward West Virginia have swung by too.
A quick stop here does more than fill a candy bag. It gives everyone a chance to stretch, recharge, and reset their mood.
Planning tip: make this your halfway treat. Kids behave better when they know a candy shop is waiting down the road.
It’s also a great way to break up a long day of driving. A short browse can turn a boring trip into a real memory.
Before you go, check current hours and location details online. That’s extra important now, since the business has plans that may change where you find it.
A little planning keeps the trip smooth. And a little toffee keeps it sweet.
Pair Your Candy Run With A Covered Bridge Detour
Candy and a historic bridge make a surprisingly great combo. The Swartz Covered Bridge sits just a few miles from Coons Candy in Wyandot County.
Covered bridges were built to protect the wooden structure from rain and snow. That roof helped bridges last much longer than open wooden ones.
Ohio has a long love affair with covered bridges. The state still has well over a hundred of them standing today.
Visiting one is a fun way to add a little history to your sweet stop. It’s also a nice spot for a family photo.
Here’s a clever idea. Buy your treats first, then enjoy them with a view of the bridge.
Kids can count the boards, spot the river, or guess how old the bridge is. It turns a quick detour into a small adventure.
Wyandot County is mostly quiet farm country. That makes the drive between the shop and the bridge relaxing and easy.
Bring a camera and some patience for slow back roads. Tractors don’t care that you’re excited about fudge.
Adding a nearby stop like this makes the trip feel more complete. You get history, scenery, and candy, all in one afternoon.
After 109 Years, the Family Celebrates Its Newly Opened Store
Most businesses that reach 109 years might be tempted to stay put. Coons Candy chose a different path, opening its relocated Harpster store in September 2026.
The new location is only about a quarter-mile from the previous building, but the move marks an important milestone for the fifth-generation family business.
Owner Raechelle Coons, who has spent more than 30 years working in candy production, welcomed customers to the new shop during its September soft opening. The family also celebrated the relocation with a community event later that month.
According to local reporting, the updated space allows the business to concentrate on its handmade sweets while continuing the traditions that have defined Coons Candy for generations.
So what stays the same? The family name, the recipes, and the friendly welcome are the heart of the business.
New walls and shelves won’t change that history. A five-generation story travels with the people who write it.
I believe this is the coolest part of the whole tale. A business born in 1917 is still dreaming bigger in Ohio today.
That’s inspiring for anyone who wonders if old traditions can keep up. Clearly, they can.
So next time you’re craving something sweet, check where the Coons family is scooping fudge. The next 109 years look tasty.
