A wall of bulk candy runs from the floor to the ceiling. The shop holding it has been selling sweets and small treasures since 1908.
That shop still has its old oak floors and tin ceilings. It still keeps an antique confection counter.
It still sells tin toys, gag gifts, and brainteaser puzzles that look easy and are not.
I like how this place refuses to hurry. It sits in a small West Virginia town, it closes on Sundays, and it still asks you to bring cash.
In a world of self-checkout lanes, that feels almost rebellious.
I believe everybody has one candy they haven’t tasted since grade school. Maybe it was a certain bubble gum.
Maybe it was a candy bar that vanished from gas stations years ago. What if it’s still waiting on a shelf somewhere?
A 1908 Five-And-Dime That Never Closed Up Shop
Berdine’s 5 & Dime in Harrisville, West Virginia, has been selling candy, toys, and odds and ends since 1908. The official website and state tourism materials describe it as a store in continuous operation for more than a century.
That’s a long run for any small business. It’s an even longer run for a five-and-dime, a kind of store most towns lost decades ago.
The shop is often billed as one of the oldest five-and-dimes in America. Its own branding leans hard into that heritage, and honestly, it has earned the right to brag a little.
Harrisville is the seat of Ritchie County, a quiet spot in the north-central part of the state. The store sits right in the middle of town, a short climb from the county courthouse.
So what makes a variety store worth a detour? It’s the rare chance to shop the way your grandparents did.
The aisles hold penny candy, old-fashioned toys, novelty gifts, and plenty of things you didn’t know you needed.
Parents get a nostalgia trip for themselves. Kids get a crash course in what fun looked like before screens.
Everybody gets a bag of candy, which settles most family debates quickly.
Two Brothers, A Small Town, And A Big Idea
Back in 1908, brothers K.C. and Lafayette Berdine opened a store in Harrisville. They probably didn’t plan on outlasting nearly every competitor in the country, but here we are.
The name stuck through the decades. Generations of Ritchie County families knew it simply as Berdine’s, the place for a treat after school or a gift before the holidays.
Early five-and-dime stores sold everyday goods at low prices. Their whole appeal was variety on a budget, which still sounds pretty good to any parent watching a household budget today.
Many of those stores faded as big chains and malls took over. Berdine’s kept going, and that stubbornness is a big part of its charm.
It’s hard not to feel a little hometown pride about that. West Virginia small towns have seen plenty of change, and this shop is a steady thread connecting today with the town’s busier past.
When you browse its shelves, you’re shopping inside a story that started more than a century ago. That’s a souvenir you can’t fit in a bag, though the candy will try its best to make room.
The Building Made Just For Nickels And Dimes
Some stores move into old buildings. Berdine’s got one built just for it, since its current home was constructed for the five-and-dime in 1915.
The two-story building wears a crisp white-and-black look that stands out on the street. It’s part of the Harrisville Historic District, so the whole neighborhood carries that early twentieth-century feel.
That matters more than you’d think. A historic shop on a modern strip would feel like a costume, but here the setting matches the story.
The courthouse sits just up the hill. Small-town Main Street energy surrounds you before you even reach the front door.
For anyone who loves old architecture, the exterior alone is worth a photo or two. The building looks like it belongs on a postcard from another era, and in a way it does.
It’s also a reminder of how much these little downtowns once meant to rural West Virginia. Courthouse towns were where families came to shop, visit, and catch up on news.
Berdine’s still plays that role in its own cheerful way. Over a hundred years later, the building is still doing exactly the job it was built for.
Oak Floors And Tin Ceilings You Can Actually Stand Under
Look down, then look up. The store has kept its original antique oak floors and classic tin ceilings, and both do a lot of quiet storytelling.
Those details make the place feel lived-in rather than staged. Modern shops chase a vintage look with reproduction signs, but this one simply never stopped being vintage.
The original oak shelves add to the effect. They hold rows of toys, trinkets, and gifts the way they have for generations.
Then there’s the antique confection counter. It’s the kind of fixture that makes adults stand a little straighter, as if a shopkeeper might hand over a nickel’s worth of something sweet.
I can’t imagine a better backdrop for a nostalgia trip. The setting does half the work before you pick up a single item.
It also makes the store a treat for anyone who enjoys old buildings and craftsmanship. You don’t need to buy anything to appreciate the floors, though resisting the candy wall is another matter entirely.
Bring your phone for photos of the ceiling. It’s one of those spaces that looks just as good in a picture as it feels in person.
Good Luck Walking Past That Candy Wall
Floor to ceiling. That’s how much bulk candy waits inside Berdine’s 5 & Dime, and it’s easily the store’s most famous feature.
Candy is also the topic that comes up most often when people talk about this shop. That makes sense, because few sights hit the childhood button faster than rows of colorful sweets.
The selection leans old-fashioned. Think penny candy, throwback treats, and those hard-to-find brands you assumed were discontinued years ago.
That’s the real thrill here. Many folks show up hunting for one specific gum or candy bar from their younger days, and the odds of finding it are surprisingly good.
Chocolate-covered treats share space with the classics too. One shopper mentioned grabbing banana nut chocolate-covered pecans, which sounds like a solid reason to loosen your belt a notch.
Parents, here’s a tip. Let the kids pick their own handful, then quietly assemble your own bag of childhood favorites while they’re distracted.
Nobody needs to know you bought twice as much as they did. The candy wall keeps secrets better than anyone in Ritchie County.
Tin Toys, Doodads, And Brainteasers That Fight Back
Remember toys with no batteries? Berdine’s still stocks plenty of them, from tin toys to throwback games and classic puzzles.
Old-fashioned toys are a big part of the store’s identity. They’re the kind of things that make grandparents say, “I had one of those,” usually with real excitement.
The brainteaser puzzles deserve their own warning label. One shopper admitted to a love-hate relationship with them, since they look simple and refuse to cooperate.
That sounds like a perfect road trip purchase. Hand one to the passenger seat and enjoy an hour of quiet concentration, followed by mild frustration.
Jigsaw puzzles turn up too. So do all sorts of small doodads that are hard to categorize but easy to love.
The staff has been known to show how certain toys work. Some visitors were even encouraged to try toys out, which turns shopping into playtime.
For kids, it’s a hands-on look at how earlier generations entertained themselves. For adults, it’s a chance to rediscover the simple fun of a spinning top or a stubborn metal puzzle.
Either way, someone’s leaving with a new favorite.
Gag Gifts For The Family Prankster
Every family has a jokester. Berdine’s happens to be a fine place to stock that person’s arsenal.
Gag gifts and quirky novelty items fill part of the shelves. One family picked up a booger box for their 9-year-old, which tells you the humor level runs proudly silly.
That’s part of the classic five-and-dime tradition. These stores were always where you found the whoopee cushion, the fake bug, and other small mischief.
The novelty section makes gift shopping surprisingly easy. Stocking stuffers, birthday add-ons, and office white-elephant gifts practically pick themselves.
Quirky merchandise keeps showing up as a favorite detail in people’s descriptions of the store. There’s a little something for everyone, including people who claim they’re too grown-up for joke gifts.
They’re not, by the way. Hand an adult a ridiculous novelty item and watch the years melt away.
A smart move is grabbing a few extras while you’re there. Small, cheap laughs are hard to find in a big-box store, and these pack a lot of personality into a tiny package.
Your future self, facing a last-minute party, will be grateful.
Czech Glass Ornaments And Other Surprises
Handmade glass Christmas ornaments from the Czech Republic aren’t what most people expect beside the penny candy. Berdine’s carries them anyway, and they add a lovely touch of sparkle.
The mix is half the fun. Delicate holiday decorations share the store with gag gifts, books, and sewing notions, which is about as true to the five-and-dime spirit as it gets.
Those sewing notions are a nice practical touch. Variety stores once handled everyday needs, and this one still nods to that tradition.
Locally made goods appear on the shelves too. That’s a welcome find for anyone who likes taking home something with real West Virginia roots.
Books are another quiet bonus. A cookbook by Dean Six has been sold there, connected to the family that owns the store.
For holiday shoppers, the ornaments alone could justify the trip. They make thoughtful keepsakes that feel far more personal than anything grabbed off a mall rack.
The takeaway is simple. Leave extra time to browse every corner, because the most interesting item in the store is rarely the first one you see.
The Six Family Has Kept The Lights On Since 1983
Ownership changed in 1983, but the spirit didn’t. That year, the Six family took over the store and carried its traditions forward.
Running a century-old shop takes more than unlocking the door each morning. It means preserving the floors, the counter, and the feel of the place while still keeping shelves stocked for today’s shoppers.
The family has clearly managed both. The store still feels historic, yet plenty of new merchandise sits alongside the nostalgic items.
Family ties run deep here. One shopper mentioned relatives connected to the owners and fond memories of visiting over many years, which says a lot about the store’s place in local life.
That sense of continuity matters in small-town West Virginia. Businesses that stay in steady hands become community anchors, not just places to spend money.
Fred Berdine was among the earlier owners before the Six family stepped in. The handoff kept the doors open at a time when many similar shops were closing for good.
Every candy bag sold today is a small vote for that legacy. Not a bad reason to buy one more, right?
Friendly Faces Behind The Counter
Friendly staff gets mentioned nearly as often as the candy. For a candy store, that’s quite the compliment.
Karen Harper, the longtime store manager, has been a familiar face for many shoppers. She started working at Berdine’s in her high school days under Fred Berdine, then stayed on with the Six family.
That kind of history behind the counter is rare. It means the person ringing you up may know more about the store than any brochure could explain.
Shoppers often describe the people as warm and welcoming. Some mention feeling like they’d known the staff for years after just one stop.
Conversations about local history seem to come easily here too. Ask a question and you may walk out knowing a bit more about Harrisville than you expected.
Kids get special attention as well. The staff has a reputation for inviting little ones to touch and try things, which turns a store visit into an adventure.
In an age of quick transactions, that personal touch feels like another antique worth preserving. It may be the friendliest part of the whole time machine.
A Memory Lane Stop For Grown-Ups First
Nostalgia is the real product here. Candy and toys are just the delivery system.
Many adults describe the store as feeling like a 1960s five-and-ten. For anyone who grew up with these shops, it’s a gentle trip back to allowance days and Saturday errands.
Younger adults get their own version of that feeling. Treats and toys from the 1980s and 1990s show up too, so the memory lane is wider than you’d think.
That makes Berdine’s a great stop for parents traveling with their own parents. Three generations can point at the shelves and each find something from their childhood.
It’s also a relaxing place to slow down. The pace inside rewards browsing, chatting, and picking things up just to see what they are.
Memorabilia adds another layer for collectors and history fans. You don’t need a shopping list, just a little curiosity and some patience.
Honestly, the kids may enjoy it, but adults often get the bigger thrill. There’s something deeply satisfying about finding a forgotten favorite and realizing it still tastes exactly right.
Bring Cash And Plan Around Sundays
Leave the plastic in your wallet. Several shoppers have noted that Berdine’s doesn’t take credit cards, so cash is the safe bet, and checks have been mentioned as an option too.
Hitting an ATM before you arrive saves an awkward moment at the counter. It also keeps your candy budget honest, which may or may not be a good thing.
Hours are straightforward. The store is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sundays are closed, so weekend road trippers should plan for a Saturday stop. That schedule gives plenty of daytime room for a lunch break and some browsing.
Give yourself time inside. A quick five-minute dash rarely works here because something always catches your eye on the next shelf.
Prices for many items are friendly to a family budget. It’s easy to leave with a small bag of treats without stretching the travel fund.
Hours can change around holidays, so a quick check before you go is wise. Otherwise, the plan is simple: bring cash, bring time, and bring a sweet tooth.
How To Find The Courthouse Hill Storefront
Getting there is part of the fun. Berdine’s 5 & Dime sits at 106 Court St, Harrisville, WV 26362, just a short stretch from the Ritchie County Courthouse.
Many travelers reach Harrisville from U.S. 50. The Ellenboro and Harrisville exit points you toward town, and the drive in is only a few miles.
Once you’re in the middle of town, head up North Court Street toward the courthouse. The shop appears quickly on the right.
Street parking is right out front. That’s one of the perks of small-town shopping that city folks tend to envy.
The location makes it an easy add-on to a bigger West Virginia day trip. North Bend State Park is in the area, and staff there have sent visitors toward the store.
That pairing works nicely. Spend a morning outdoors, then cool down with a bag of old-fashioned candy in town.
Travelers crossing the state on U.S. 50 can also treat it as a road trip break. It beats a gas station snack aisle by a mile, and the scenery is much better.
Worth Every Nickel And A Few Extra Dimes
Plenty of shops sell candy. Very few sell a feeling that’s been carefully kept alive since 1908.
Berdine’s 5 & Dime pulls that off with real floors, real history, and real people behind the counter. It never feels like a theme park version of the past.
Parents will find a cheap and cheerful outing that actually holds their own interest. Kids will find toys and treats they’ve likely never seen before.
Grandparents might enjoy it most of all. Few things beat watching a grandchild try the candy you loved decades ago.
The store also says something good about West Virginia. Small towns here still hold onto traditions worth sharing, and this one shines brighter than most.
So plan a stop, grab some cash, and give yourself time to wander. Pick up a puzzle, a novelty gift, or that one candy you’ve been missing.
Then share the trip with someone who remembers their own hometown five-and-dime. Chances are they’ll have a story ready, and you’ll have the perfect candy to hand them while they tell it.
