Seth A.
Yelp
What? Could this be? A giant candy store located right along Highway 169? You mean this, the largest candy store in Minnesota? Whoa...I better pull over immediately! Lol.
Yes, I love candy. So...while driving along my summer road trip I came across this, the official - Minnesota's Largest Candy Store. I had to check this place out. What a bold, right in your face name. To say it drew my attention would be an understatement!
Here it was in late afternoon, and I randomly discovered this MLCS. I quickly pulled into the parking lot and even before I went inside, I was already snapping photos of the entrance sign and along the grounds outside the building. I give this store massive credit. They know how to attract attention.
The store is painted bright yellow with all sorts of colors. It really stands out. The building is like one giant storage unit in what appeared to house all the candy in the entire world! The whole setup was very clever.
Just before entering inside, a song started playing in my head...
"come with me, and you'll be, in a world of pure imagination!" Hehehe...alright I'm going a little over the top!
But seriously, I felt like my inner child was coming out. Yes, I'm now 43 and a grown adult but this candy store felt like Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory all over again. Maybe not as magical as the movie, but still for me...such a pleasant surprise.
Now finally entering...I absolutely grabbed a shopping wagon...no, not a shopping basket, but a wagon! I was going all out, give me the big cart!
Funny, before I even started shopping, I think I just wandered through the isles taking pictures. It's like, this place had everything! It's just hilarious, all the other customers were shopping for their favorite candies and all I'm busy doing is taking photos up and down the rows with my selfie-stick!
I believe I spent a good 30 minutes simply exploring before finally loading up my cart. Btw...just a heads up because I was surprised by this...they only accept cash.
Good thing I did have money with me but normally if I were in a local store, I'd never be carrying around the amount of cash I actually had with me while here in Jordan, Minnesota. Oh, and...yes they have an ATM just in case.
I will say...prices for the candies were a little elevated. I mean, I guess you're paying for the convenience and for the availability of all these candies that remind you of your childhood, and so a chance to purchase stuff that normally you'd never find anymore at a grocery store, gas station or a place like Walmart...you have to pay up to get your hands on these old-fashioned items.
One other thing...inside it's setup like a giant warehouse or say like a Costco where they appear to sell things wholesale, but you can purchase every item individually.
Near the front register area were all sorts of drinks and refreshments. Then when heading towards the middle and back sections...it's basically isle after isle after isle...
I took my time looking over all the candies. I knew in my head I'd spend around $100...that was sort of my budget. I think, had they let me pay with credit card, I wouldn't have been so self-conscious about the prices.
Here was just a sampling of the items I placed in my shopping cart...
- chocolate chip cookie dough popcorn, English toffee popcorn, gummy bears cereal (absolutely no nutritional value added!), giant gummy turkey legs, Tell City Honey BBQ pretzels, cookie dough taffy, those old fashioned "mega" candy buttons, all sorts of flavored lollipops, jellybeans, Pez candies, candy cigarettes, some international chocolates I had never heard of, unique cotton candy flavors...and...I think that was about it, lol.
So...after spending 30 minutes walking around I used another 45 minutes shopping.
Finally, I must mention the charming little mementos and statues situated outside the candy store entranceway...
- The World's Largest Jigsaw Puzzle - "Guinness Book of World Records has certified this puzzle, measuring 22 feet, 6 inches long and 6 feet, 3 inches high to be the World's Largest Jigsaw Puzzle". This was great for a photo.
- Actually, this is inside...for bathrooms - they also have Minnesota's Largest Porta Potties! Wow...although I never went inside to use them, I would say that they're probably well maintained. I can't remember though if they have real bathrooms. But they do have these giant porta potties, lol.
- A giant sized map of the neighborhood of Jordan, Minnesota...a town I didn't know existed.
- A Jelly Belly statue - sitting on a bench good for another fun picture.
- The official sign stating..."Minnesota's Largest Candy Store". It's situated off to the right-hand side of the parking lot. Imo, this sign is sort of a rite of passage announcing that you have arrived at this landmark attraction.
Well. I've said all I could say. One last thing, the store is conveniently located only 40 miles from Minneapolis!
Alight, this is Minnesota's Largest Candy Store.