Somewhere on the Oregon coast, a building that once held a bowling alley now holds chocolate frogs. Yes, frogs. Solid chocolate ones, made with Swiss chocolate and sold in over a dozen flavors.
I love that the namesake treat is this whimsical. The shop could have picked a seashell or a lighthouse. Instead, it went with a cheerful amphibian and never looked back.
The frogs are only the start, though. Fudge, saltwater taffy, hand-dipped truffles, and old-fashioned candy fill the place. The owners are a husband-and-wife team who often work right there in the store.
I can’t imagine driving past a candy shop with a frog for a mascot and not pulling over. Can you?
Bowling Pins Out, Chocolate In
Strikes and spares once ruled this spot. A 2024 commercial space listing described the building at the shop’s current address as a vacant bowling alley.
Now the only thing rolling around is a craving for fudge. That’s a pretty great upgrade, if you ask me.
Don’t expect to find lanes or pin machines inside today, though. The space has become a full candy and gift shop, with no sign of active bowling.
Still, the backstory adds a fun layer to your visit. It’s not every day you buy truffles where people used to keep score.
This building isn’t the shop’s first home either. The Chocolate Frog started out in Waldport before moving to Lincoln City in 2019.
That move put the business right on one of the busiest roads on the Oregon coast. It also gave the frog a bigger stage to hop around on.
Old buildings getting new lives is one of the nicest things a town can see. A former bowling alley turning into a candy shop feels like a happy plot twist.
Tell your kids the history before you go in. They may start asking where the bowling shoes went.
Meet the Frogs That Started All This Fuss
Over a dozen flavors. That’s how many versions of the namesake chocolate frog you can choose from at The Chocolate Frog.
These whimsical treats are made from solid Swiss-imported chocolate. Each one is shaped like a little frog, which is exactly as cute as it sounds.
Picking a flavor might be the hardest decision of your road trip. A dozen choices can freeze even the most confident snacker at the counter.
My advice? Grab a few different ones and share them around. Taste-testing in the car is a time-honored family tradition for a reason.
The frogs make great small gifts too. They’re easy to carry home and far more memorable than a plain candy bar from a gas station.
Kids especially tend to love candy shaped like an animal. A chocolate frog feels like a toy and a dessert rolled into one.
Fans of a certain young wizard might also get a kick out of these. You won’t need magic to catch one, just a few minutes at the case.
However you enjoy them, the frogs are the heart of this shop. Leaving without one would feel a little like skipping the main attraction.
Small Batches, Big Flavors in the Chocolate Case
Hand-dipped and made in small batches, the chocolates here start with imported Swiss and Belgian chocolate. Local ingredients get mixed in to give them a coastal touch.
The case is where your willpower goes to take a nap. Truffle choices change daily, so every visit can bring something a little different.
Raspberry cheesecake and lemon chiffon often show up among the truffles. Those names alone sound like a dessert menu at a fancy restaurant.
Then come the shop favorites. Handmade salted peanut butter cups, coconut haystacks, dark chocolate seafoam, and dark chocolate pecan brittle all have loyal followings.
Seafoam is a fun pick if you’ve never tried it. It’s a light, airy candy, and pairing it with dark chocolate makes a lot of sense.
Since selections rotate, it helps to be flexible. Go in with a favorite in mind, but leave room for whatever looks good that day.
You can sometimes catch treats being made in the shop too. Watching candy come together is a bonus that no vending machine can match.
A small box of mixed pieces is a smart way to sample. That way nobody in your group has to fight over the last peanut butter cup.
Fudge and Taffy Steal Their Share of the Spotlight
Saltwater taffy and the Oregon coast go together like sand and flip-flops. At this shop, the taffy is locally made, which makes it an easy souvenir to bring home.
Fudge is the other big star. It’s one of the treats people mention most when talking about the place.
Flavors run from classic dark chocolate to maple and beyond. Some shoppers point to maple walnut as a top choice, so keep that one on your radar.
A slab of fudge is perfect for sharing after a beach walk. Cut it into small squares and it stretches surprisingly far.
Taffy is a different kind of fun. It’s colorful, chewy, and great for filling a bag with a mix of flavors for everyone back home.
Fudge, taffy, and handcrafted chocolates are really the shop’s specialty trio. Each one brings its own texture, which keeps your sweet tooth guessing.
One tip for road trippers: keep fudge out of hot cars when possible. A cooler bag helps it survive the drive in good shape.
If you only buy two things, make them a chocolate frog and a piece of fudge. Add taffy, and you’ve basically covered the greatest hits.
A Family Business With a Frog for a Mascot
Ken and Leslie Hohstadt started The Chocolate Frog in 2014. Their idea was simple: make good candy with care and treat every customer like family.
That family feeling isn’t just a slogan. The owners are often in the store themselves, chatting, helping, and keeping the shelves full.
Small shops like this live or die by personal touches. A rewards program for regular shoppers shows the Hohstadts want people coming back, not just passing through once.
The frog theme gives the whole place a playful identity. The shop aims to create a world of sweetness and magic, with a little enchantment in every bite.
It’s a big promise for a candy store. Still, it fits a business that named itself after a chocolate amphibian instead of something serious.
Family ownership also shapes what ends up on the shelves. Leslie is diabetic, so she actively looks for good, affordable sugar-free options for the shop.
That kind of choice comes from real life, not a marketing meeting. It means more people in your group can find a treat they enjoy.
So when you stop in, you’re supporting a real couple. Their story is still being written, one batch at a time.
Rock Candy, Jawbreakers, and a Trip Back in Time
Remember jawbreakers that lasted longer than a car ride? This shop still stocks them, along with rock candy and other old-fashioned favorites.
Grandparents tend to light up at these shelves. Suddenly they have a story about the corner store from their childhood.
The selection doesn’t stop at nostalgia. You’ll also find imported German chocolates, plus jams and mustards for the savory crowd.
Treats from the Newport Candy Shop add even more local flavor. It’s a nice nod to another coastal candy maker just down the road.
Organic and sugar-free options round things out. That matters for families with different diets, since no one has to just watch everyone else snack.
The range here is honestly impressive for one shop. You can go from a fancy truffle to a classic candy stick in about three steps.
This mix makes the place fun for browsing. Every shelf seems to hold something you didn’t know you were looking for.
Set a candy budget before you start exploring, though. Otherwise those vintage treats and European chocolates may quietly double your shopping bag.
Every Corner Is Packed With Something to Look At
Small but cozy, and absolutely jam-packed with candy. That’s a fair way to describe the inside of The Chocolate Frog.
The shop leans into whimsy everywhere you look. It’s the kind of place where your eyes keep jumping from one shelf to the next.
Not everything here is edible, either. The store doubles as a gift shop, with local shirts, hoodies, coffee mugs, and glassware.
Toys, souvenirs, and one-of-a-kind gifts fill in the gaps. Ceramic frogs make a fitting keepsake if you want the mascot on your desk at home.
A hoodie from the coast is practical too. Oregon beach weather can turn chilly fast, so a cozy souvenir might get used right away.
Plan to take your time inside. Rushing through a shop this full means missing the fun little finds tucked on lower shelves.
Bring a little patience if you visit during a busy stretch. A crowded candy shop is still a happy problem to have.
Kids may want to inspect every toy twice. Honestly, the adults in your group might be right there with them.
Halloween Brings a Bag Full of Fun
Boo Bags. That’s the kind of seasonal activity The Chocolate Frog has offered around Halloween, letting visitors build their own spooky treat bags.
Hands-on fun like this turns a quick candy stop into a memory. Kids get to choose, mix, and show off their creations.
Seasonal experiences change, so check the shop’s social media before planning around one. That way you’ll know what’s happening during your trip.
Holidays are a great time to visit any candy shop. A store built around sweetness and magic seems made for festive weeks on the calendar.
Even outside special events, gift shopping is easy here. Boxes of chocolates, frogs, and taffy work for birthdays, thank-yous, and just-because surprises.
Many families make coastal trips a yearly tradition. Adding a stop at a candy shop is an easy way to give that tradition a sweet anchor.
Fall on the Oregon coast can be breezy and gray. A warm shop full of treats is a cheerful break from the weather.
Whatever season you visit, ask what’s new. Rotating truffles and holiday goodies mean the shelves rarely look exactly the same twice.
An Easy Pull-Over on Your Highway 101 Road Trip
Right on Highway 101, the shop sits where nearly every coastal road trip passes. You’ll find it at 316 SE Hwy 101, Lincoln City, OR 97367.
The shop’s current address places it in Lincoln City’s DeLake district, near the D River, rather than in its former Nelscott neighborhood. The Christmas Cottage is farther south at 3305 SW Highway 101, so you can visit both shops during a drive through Lincoln City.
Hours are friendly for travelers. The shop opens at 11 AM daily, closing at 5 PM most days and 6 PM on Saturdays.
That late-morning start works well after a beach walk. Grab breakfast, stroll the sand, then head over for dessert before lunch. No judgment.
Restrooms for customers aren’t available, so plan ahead. It’s a small detail, but parents with little ones will thank you.
Lincoln City has plenty of beaches to explore nearby. A bag of taffy makes an excellent companion for watching waves roll in.
Since the shop is right on the main road, it’s simple to find. You won’t have to wander through side streets hunting for a frog.
So next time you’re cruising the Oregon coast, keep an eye out. The Chocolate Frog is waiting, and those chocolate frogs won’t eat themselves.
