The Candy Factory
701 Cherry St. | (573) 443-8222
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | Closed Sunday
Parking:
8th and Cherry Parking Garage
Website:
OH, SWEET SUCCESS! EXPANDED CANDY FACTORY ELATES CHOCOHOLICS.
Chocolate lovers have found an oasis at the Candy Factory's new location at 7th and Cherry Streets in downtown Columbia. Owners Sam and Donna Atkinson recently expanded their business after 14 years. In existence since 1976, the Candy Factory is one of few old-fashioned candy shops in Missouri. When the Atkinsons decided to increase their operation in 1999, they pulled out all the stops to make the Candy Factory every Chocoholics dream come true.
The transformation began with the purchase of a solid-brick, fifty-year old building. Renovations required stripping the building down to bare walls while leaving the original brickwork, wainscoting and a beautiful wooden entryway. Today, the shop features the flavor of a traditional candy store with polished wooden floors, ceiling fans, school house lights and four old-fashioned glass cases that house fresh, made-on-premise, chocolate confections.
The sights and smells are indescribable. Indulge in classic favorites such as caramel-pecan Katys, a variety of chocolate creams, truffles in twelve flavors with your choice of dark or milk chocolate, as well as the Ultimate Chocolate Pizza (deep-dish, of course.) This signature item consists of a chocolate crust topped with cashews, brazil nuts, walnuts, pecans, cherries and marshmallows drizzled with a white chocolate finale.
The true chocolate aficionado can't resist a trip upstairs past hand-painted murals that give the area a Candy Land meets Willy Wonka whimsy. The upstairs viewing room looks out over the production area where you can watch the enrobing machine coating cookies,pretzels or other goodies with silken chocolate. Glance over to the molding room and you may see an employee in the cooking room, you can see the unique firestove that features a copper kettle and burners used to make the shop's caramel and English toffee.
If all that chocolate has left you with energy for shopping, the downstairs gift shop specializes in unique but affordable giftware such as tea sets, Ginny Dolls, frames candles, gourmet foods, stuffed animals and Mary Engelbreit items. A large greeting card selection and hundreds of unique candies round out the selection.
