I grew up in Indiana, and I thought I had seen every small-town gem worth knowing about. Then someone told me about Wakarusa Dime Store, and honestly, I felt like a kid all over again the moment I walked through the door.
This little candy shop has earned a 4.5-star rating from over 600 happy visitors, and it’s easy to see why. From giant, colorful jelly beans to house-made fudge, old-fashioned lollipops, and retro sweets you didn’t even know still existed, every corner of this shop bursts with nostalgia and delight.
The shelves are packed with treats that bring back childhood memories, and the scent of sugar and chocolate practically pulls you in before you even reach the counter. If you have never made the trip out to Wakarusa, I am here to tell you that you are seriously missing out on one of Indiana’s sweetest hidden treasures, a place that makes you pause, smile, and remember just how magical the little joys in life can be.
Jumbo Jelly Beans That Are Truly One of a Kind
Some candies are famous for a reason, and the jumbo jelly beans at Wakarusa Dime Store have built a reputation that stretches well beyond Elkhart County. These are not your average grocery store jelly beans.
They are big, bold, and packed with flavor in a way that makes you wonder why all jelly beans are not made this size.
The store’s website is literally named jumbojellybeans.com, which tells you everything you need to know about how seriously they take this signature treat. Customers have driven hours just to get their hands on a bag, and one reviewer mentioned nearly turning their car around on the way home just to grab more.
That kind of pull is rare.
Flavors range from classic fruit varieties to more adventurous picks like chocolate-covered cherry, which you can even order online if you cannot make it to the store right away. Buying them by the pound is a popular option, letting you mix and match to your heart’s content.
Whether you are a lifelong jelly bean fan or someone who has never thought twice about them, one taste of these jumbo beauties will absolutely change your mind. They are the kind of candy that earns its own fan club.
Handmade Fudge Worth Every Single Bite
Fudge gets a bad reputation sometimes as a tourist trap purchase, but the fudge at Wakarusa Dime Store is the real deal. Rich, dense, and made with care, it is the kind of sweet treat that pairs perfectly with a lazy Saturday afternoon in a small Indiana town.
One bite and you will understand why people keep coming back.
The texture hits that perfect sweet spot between firm and melt-in-your-mouth, which is genuinely hard to pull off without cutting corners. Wakarusa Dime Store does not cut corners.
The selection rotates and often includes classic chocolate alongside more creative flavors that reflect the store’s playful, adventurous spirit.
If you are visiting on a Saturday, doors open at 9 AM, making it the perfect first stop before exploring the rest of Wakarusa. Grab a piece of fudge, wander around the store, and let the whole experience slow you down in the best possible way.
Fudge here also makes a genuinely thoughtful gift, whether you are picking something up for a coworker or treating a neighbor who has had a rough week. It travels well and tastes even better when shared.
A 4.5-star store does not get that rating without a product like this anchoring the experience from the very start.
Retro Candy That Takes You Straight Back to Childhood
Walking through Wakarusa Dime Store feels like flipping through an old photo album you forgot you had. The shelves are lined with candy that most modern stores stopped carrying decades ago.
Strip Candy Dots, Boston Baked Beans, Slo-Poke Suckers, Foot Long Taffy, Curly Wurly bars, and more are all waiting right there for you to rediscover.
One reviewer who described themselves as 64 years old said this store brought back every single memory of being a kid in a candy shop. That kind of emotional connection is not something you stumble across every day.
The storefront signage itself echoes the 1950s, and inside there is even a table showcasing vintage candy packaging that serves as its own little museum display.
For Indiana locals who grew up making trips to old five-and-dime stores, this place hits differently. It is not just shopping, it is a genuine experience that reconnects you with a simpler time.
Parents who bring their kids often end up spending more time than expected because they keep finding another candy from their own childhood tucked on the next shelf. Nostalgia has a price tag here, and most people agree it is absolutely worth it.
This is the kind of store that makes you slow down, smile, and remember what it felt like to have a quarter burning a hole in your pocket.
Wild and Unusual Flavors You Will Not Find Anywhere Else
Not everything at Wakarusa Dime Store is a trip down memory lane. Some of it is a trip into genuinely uncharted candy territory.
Spicy pickle cotton candy, bacon-flavored treats, glitter maple syrup, roasted crickets, and ant suckers are all real things you can actually purchase here. Yes, really.
The store leans into its quirky, adventurous side without apology, and that is a huge part of its charm. Whether you are buying a bag of roasted crickets as a dare for a friend or genuinely curious about what spicy pickle cotton candy tastes like, the store gives you full permission to be weird about it.
Nobody is judging you here.
Maple syrup soda is another fan favorite that surprises people with how good it actually is. Indiana has deep roots in maple production, especially in the northern part of the state, so seeing that flavor celebrated in soda form feels right at home.
These unusual picks also make the store a fantastic destination for gift shopping when you want to give someone something genuinely memorable and unexpected. You are not going to find this lineup at your local grocery store or big box retailer.
That exclusivity is part of what makes Wakarusa Dime Store feel special. Every visit has the potential to turn up something new you have never tried before, which keeps the experience fresh no matter how many times you return.
A Massive Variety That Covers Every Sweet Craving
One thing every single reviewer seems to agree on is that Wakarusa Dime Store has an almost overwhelming amount of variety. Taffy in every flavor you can imagine, Jelly Belly beans by the bag, assorted chocolates, hard candies, nuts, unique sodas, stuffed animals, and toys are all packed into this cozy little shop at 103 E Waterford St in Wakarusa.
There is genuinely something for everyone.
Sugar-free options are also available, which is a thoughtful touch for shoppers who need to watch their sugar intake but still want to be part of the fun. Families with picky eaters or kids with dietary restrictions will appreciate that the store has not overlooked them in its curation.
The selection feels carefully chosen rather than randomly assembled.
One reviewer compared the feeling of shopping here to being a kid in a candy store, which is basically the highest compliment this kind of shop can receive. The store is open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5:30 PM, with Saturday hours starting as early as 9 AM and Sunday hours running from 11 AM to 4 PM.
You can also reach them at 574-862-4690 or browse online at jumbojellybeans.com for ordering options. With this much variety under one roof, a single visit rarely feels like enough to see and try everything the store has to offer.
The Charming Small-Town Setting Makes It a Full Day Trip
Wakarusa itself is the kind of Indiana town that feels like it has been preserved in amber in the best possible way. The quiet streets, the friendly faces, and the genuine small-town rhythm make a trip here feel like a real escape from the noise of everyday life.
Pairing a visit to the Dime Store with a walk around town turns a quick candy run into a genuinely enjoyable outing.
Bonneyville Mill County Park, located at 53373 County Road 131 in Bristol, is just a short drive away and offers beautiful wooded trails and a historic working grist mill that the whole family can enjoy. Ox Bow County Park at 26023 County Road 28 in Goshen is another nearby outdoor gem with peaceful walking paths along the Elkhart River.
For food after your sweet shopping, Rise N Roll Bakery at 1105 N Main St in Nappanee serves up incredible Amish-style baked goods that complement the nostalgic theme of the whole day perfectly.
The area surrounding Wakarusa is deeply rooted in Amish culture, which adds an extra layer of authenticity and charm to the experience. Rolling farmland, roadside produce stands, and a slower pace of life make the drive itself part of the fun.
Combining the Dime Store with even one or two nearby stops turns the whole outing into a genuinely satisfying Indiana day trip that you will want to repeat every season.
Friendly Staff and a Free Horse Ride for the Kids
Good candy is one thing, but good people make a store worth returning to again and again. The staff at Wakarusa Dime Store has earned consistent praise in reviews for being warm, patient, and genuinely helpful.
One visitor specifically called out a staff member named Cindy for being wonderful and patient while helping navigate the store with four kids in tow. That kind of personal attention is rare and refreshing.
There is also a free horse ride available for kids and toddlers inside the store, which has become a genuine highlight for families visiting with little ones. It is the sort of unexpected detail that turns a simple shopping trip into a memory.
Kids who might not care about taffy flavors or vintage candy packaging absolutely light up when they see that horse waiting for them near the center of the store.
The giant gumball machine in the middle of the store is another crowd pleaser that reviewers keep mentioning with genuine affection. Little details like these show that the store was designed with the full experience in mind, not just the transaction.
When a business puts this much thought into making visitors feel welcome and entertained, it shows. Wakarusa Dime Store earns its 4.5-star rating not just through its inventory but through the warmth and personality it brings to every single visit.
That combination is genuinely hard to beat anywhere in Indiana.
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