They may not be Willy Wonka, but the Berley brothers come in a close second. Beginning in 1863, the door to 110 Market Street has welcomed in thousands of customers who have been exposed to a confectioner’s dream.
The first candy maker to own Shane Confectionary, now called Shane Candies, was a man named Samuel Herring, whose family was famous for their confectionary skills. Mr. Herring was especially known for his homemade marshmallows, buttercreams, and chocolates with a lemon filling.
A few decades later, at the turn of the 20th century, Edward Shane took ownership and emphasized that every piece of candy be hand crafted. Ultimately, Edward’s grandson, Barry, assumed responsibility of this authentic candy shop. In the 1980s, Eric and Ryan Berley came along to Philadelphia and asked permission from Barry to open an old-fashioned soda fountain down the block on Market Street. This iconic ice cream parlor succeeded with its unique recipes and antique furnishings. This past May, Barry Shane retired, entrusting in the Berley brothers, notorious for their old-fashioned roots, to refurbish the place back to its glory days. After taking more than a year to restore the oldest candy store in America back to its archaic origin, the brothers have recently reopened the store.
Playing along with the theme, the Berley brothers are always seen in bow ties, and the staff in white-gloves and traditional early 20th century outfits. Even the lighting is from the beginning of the 1900s, accompanied by outmoded bulbs. Some of the offered treats include gumdrops, ginormous and colorful jawbreakers, and pink Turkish delights flown in from Istanbul, all presented in vintage glass jars. In addition to these childhood classics, the Berley brothers plan to offer seasonal sweets such as saltwater taffy and fudge in the summer and homemade candy canes during the holiday seasons.Â
The back rooms, which remain somewhat of a mystery to customers, contain large mixing bowls, conveyor belts, and even the original buttercream machine. Many of the sweets are made on location, including the bacon and Pennsylvania Dutch potato chips drizzled with chocolate, the famous buttercreams (still made with the initial recipe), and the jelly squares. It is essential to the Berley brothers to continue the tradition of homemade candy and preserve the original methods of the Herring and Shane families. Seemingly, the credit card machines may be the only contemporary item in the store.Â
There is even a candy maker dipping chocolate by the front window, enticing the sweet tooth of individuals walking by. Now with this sweet fantasy back in Old City, it may be smart to keep your dentist close by.