True Treats Historic Candy

I was excited to visit after reading reviews and even drove over 4 hours to get here, but my experience was extremely disappointing. My husband and I were not greeted at all, though other customers who came in after us were warmly welcomed. When I asked about Turkish taffy, staff were dismissive- one woman stomped off, silently pointed and walked away. At checkout, my items were tossed into a bag with no friendliness whatsoever. The whole time, I felt ignored and unwanted, like my business didn’t matter. Employees often forget that it’s paying customers who make their salaries possible. Many candies here can be found at the dollar store or Five below, just repackaged and overpriced, though some items are unique. In the end, my visit was anything but a true treat-it left a bitter taste, like the nastiest candy you’d never want to try again!

We absolutely loved this candy shop. There is a good mix of their own homemade historic candy as well as favorites from larger brands that you don’t see as often anymore.

We love this store. We visited on a weekday evening. They have candies from all over the country. If you can imagine it, they have it. From I love you lollipops to chocolate covered Twinkies on a stick. We bought candied almonds, a mixed bag of candies and a large stick of bubblegum.

This place is amazing! A variety of vintage candies and homemade stuff, all delicious! You have to see it to believe it! I was in heaven. I'm embarrassed to say that I spent $80 in a candy shop! So worth it, though! Gets a little crowded, but the checkout line moved quickly. Can't wait to visit again sometime!

My daughter and I really enjoyed this shop and had fun perusing the options and reading their history. The young man who welcomed us to the store was very knowledgeable and helpful. We bought a variety of specialty candies for family and especially appreciated the "Family Recipe" treats. Definitely a must when in Harpers Ferry!

This old-time candy store is so much fun. They have different eras of candy in different parts of the store. We bought Turkish delight, pixie sticks, satellite wafers, and red licorice laces. The first picture is my husband putting a thumbtack on the world map. He placed a tack on Morocco to show a Moroccan visitor was in the store. The name of the candy store is called True Treats. Customer service was amazing. In Harpers Ferry.

This is a super cute shop! Apparently, this is the nation’s only historic candy shop. They had treats from all time periods. They have some freshly baked goods, some throwback candy, and some vintage inspired candy. They randomly have books. We love literacy!

I bookmarked this shop when I saw their entry on Atlas Obscura. Unlike many of the other ice cream and candy shops in Harpers Ferry (which were doing tremendous business on this hot afternoon), this one is focused on more historic treats. The candy of old. Part museum and part sweet shop, they have displays showing the candies through the ages, from native American hickory bark to 1900 toys and food items behind glass. It was tough to limit our purchase as we saw so many "must have" items. In the end, we got our bill down to under $30 and just got four different things including some chocolate covered almonds for me (vacation food!) and both ginger and licorice for Mrs. K. Note that True Treats Candy is not handicapped accessible. The entrance is a somewhat steep set of stairs. They might have a rear entrance, probably just ask.

I had heard about True Treats in my travel planning research and was excited to stop in while visiting Harper's Ferry! It's a cute shop down some steep stairs that features historic candy ranging from over centuries. It was impressive how much variety they had from over a century of treats, some of which were surprising (like THIS is what they ate back then?!). I was hoping they'd have more options for things like baked goods or chocolates or fudge that were made from historic recipes, but they still have so many options without it. I got some gummy sharks and jelly beans for my friends' kids, some gummies for myself, and some of the old school gum flavors for my partner (Clove! Guava!). The candy went over like gangbusters with the kids. Despite the store being busy, it didn't feel crowded or like I had to wait a long time for service. The staff was very friendly and on hand to answer questions. I also enjoyed that they have a sign saying that they aren't strict about how timely they are in opening: that's so real. True Treats is a must in Harper's Ferry!

About a 2-2.5: True Treats Candy is one of the stores you can find along the main strip in historic HF - owned by Susan Benjamin, who is considered an expert in how sweets/sugars shaped North America, the store offers candies from various time periods (from 1500s to the 1900s). When you step in, you are welcomed/greeted right away from one of the employees - they share how the store is set up, and encourage you to try their sampling of their beverages from the station by the front (blackberry time, lemonade, and hibiscus tea). There were 'gift sets' that made it easier for those looking for souvenirs or to bring back home as gifts. I was a little weary about purchasing some of the items, as some had caked on dust on them and I wasn't sure what the expiration dates were. +friendly staff

A museum for candy where you can also buy it?? Such a fun concept!! A definite must-see if you're visiting Harpers Ferry. The store is organized by time period and everything we tried was great! The staff are super friendly and very eager to share their knowledge...was such a great experience! They have candy, teas, and other treats from every time period imaginable - 1700s, Victorian, the world war eras, the 80s - they even had an "ancient and biblical" section!! The owner is a renowned historian that really focuses on the accuracy of the candy to the time period. The store is a treasure trove of historical candy info! I loved the gift boxes from all the different eras with different themes - like soldiers' mess kits from the different war eras (even as far back as the revolutionary war!!) up to a "retro" movie night box! We tried candied rose petals (which were excellent), chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate coconut truffles from the 1800s, s'mores, candy corn (called "chicken feed" haha!), and these caramel-covered marshmallows (known as "caramel biscuits" in the late 1800s). The candied rose petals were divine! All of it was actually - but my fave was the caramel marshmallows - SO good!! A very unique flavor too - much different to the ones you get at See's Candies. Super soft and creamy and just delightful! I was also very intrigued by their jars of flavored waters - they look like ancient potion bottles haha! I couldn't resist grabbing an orange flavor and rose flavor of course. I also grabbed some spearmint tea and rose tea. Adding a splash of the rose water to the rose tea takes it to a whole other level! And if you spend over a certain amount, they'll ship it to you free! I wasn't going to be able to bring my flavored waters home on the plane but they shipped them and they arrived so fast and totally intact! Very impressive and great customer service!! Bonus PRO TIP: there's a makeshift sort of movie theater in the very back playing old cartoons and movies - was really fun to relax for a bit and reminisce!! Parking is in paid lots around the area bc it's all inside the Harpers Ferry National Park - the whole town is basically the park - it's such an experience! But there are several lots in the area and they accept national park passes. There's a small flight of stairs you have to go down to get into the store - there may be handicap access if you go around the back way to the right but I'm not 100% sure. It's fantastic to make a day out of it!

I loved the concept of True Treats and the interior was decorated well, the staff was very friendly but... the treats fell short for me. Right when you walk in you're greeted by one of the workers and they explain everything to you. It's very cool because the store itself is laid out in time periods - starting with the earliest and making your way up to current candies. The Valomilk I got was good but after I ate it I was looking at the packaging and I realized it was a few months expired. Now I know it's not the biggest deal but it's definitely a small attention to detail. I also bought some cola gummy's, and I don't know why, but they just didn't taste right to me. I ate one and ended up throwing out the rest. The taste was almost medicinal, maybe it's because it was meant to mimic a different era but it was a little off. The fresh slices of cake and Whoopie pies when you walk in are probably your best bet. They looked very good and like they were just made. There is a hidden gem in the store and it's in the back. There's a small little theater room playing, incredibly old movies, set up with chairs and everything to watch. I think they were playing a very very old superman movie when I went in and it was just a cool experience to look at and enjoy. If you are in Harpers Ferry, I definitely suggest going and looking. Be careful with what candy you buy. Look at the expiration date and definitely visit the theater room in the back. A cool experience all around.

My friend and I were checking out all the little places in Harpers Ferry, WV when she insisted that we check out this spot called True Treats Candy! When walking in, there was a sample of elderberry tea that guests were allowed to try. It was delicious! Then, we made our way through the store and quickly found that it is all about the history of candy! It is so intriguing to see where all of the candy's origins are from, many of them from native american cultures. I think this is so important for children to see, because it makes learning fun! It was even fun for us adults. As for the store itself, it was still beautifully decorated for Christmas which was very charming. The store itself was very clean, and there were other food items such as pie and coffee offered as well. The lady working the register was also very kind and we had a short conversation with her before leaving the store feeling excited about what we just saw! I highly recommend this spot especially if you like sweets! If you don't, there is also plenty of other options for you here. Some include many varieties of Tea, as well as different types of sugar.

I am a candy maker, and this candy store was the bomb to visit! I really enjoyed reading the labels. The candies are sectioned by period. Historical candy is offered and created from herbal remedies to enjoyable sweets, as well as the popular candies today and from your childhood. A lovely section of teas and flavored sugars. I bought the Raspberry flavored sugar, lemon peels, Jasmine Tea, and a book! I could have bought more, but the good news is that they have an online store! I have friends that are bacon lovers, and they have a lot of bacon-flavored items. Maple Bacon lollipops, etc. Every kind of licorice and many different types of hard candies. Recommend visiting.

What an adorable shop filled with classic candies! When I say classic, I mean classic. I mean they break down their candy into chronological sections starting with "biblical times" at the start of the CE/ AD!! It's impressive! I found the earliest candies section the most interesting - some of the candies are in both the realm of medicinal and sweet treat. Makes sense- needing some sugar to deliver some of the healing powers of some of the ingredients. I liked some of the candies that looked like stained glass or candy drop - in particular, there was a delightful pomegranate flavor. There were so many more, and I hope to try some more next time I'm there! There were also some fun candies like Turkish delight and Potato candy that seem like such fun! Plenty of nougat candies - one that I hadn't seen since my childhood. Walk around and see a bunch of chocolate covered goodies of all kinds. Feeling nostalgic? How about Mary Janes, Charleston Chews, Big League Chew, candy cigarettes, candy buttons and pixie sticks? SO much fun! The entry room is interesting with a small setting of an an old time looking table and chairs, along with some music from decades ago. The staff must all be extremely knowledgeable, even though we only interacted with the one staffer. She knew so much information, it was impressive. They research their candy here, so it's the whole deal. Any question you have, it'll be answered. What fun to have a great candy shop that goes far beyond some chocolate and lollipops in this wonderful location in downtown Harpers Ferry. The hours here were much later than the times posted on Yelp, but I'm not sure if it is just the weekend and the Yelp hours might have reflected the earlier part of the pandemic. It's nice they accept cards of all kinds, not just cash or Visa/MC. Yum yum yum! Adore this place!

I came in expecting a regular candy shop (maybe with some old timey vibes) and was utterly surprised and delighted to find an amazing historical candy experience AND candy store. I'm interested in the 1700s and it was so cool to see such a wide range of different weird treats from that era arranged together. I've never seen that before - not at re-enactments, historical events, or even at Colonial Williamsburg. Even if you're not into the older historic stuff, my husband found some candies from his father's childhood that we'd thought had disappeared a long time ago. There's something for everyone here.

Always a delight to visit and get those candies you can hardly find anywhere else. Love the soda selection as well.

True treats is a treat to visitors of Harpers Ferry! The prices for the candy are really expensive and prices are not marked so you don't know the damage until you are paying at the cash register. However, if you view it like a museum of historical food rather than a candy shop the prices don't seem as bad. They have candy that goes back to the 17th century including, but definitely not limited to, packs of treats from different wars - including sticks used to brush teeth - the original toothbrushes! The shop keepers were extremely knowledgeable and had lots of fun facts to share with us as we soaked in the nostalgia of it all.

A stop at this below ground candy store is really an essential part of the Harpers Ferry experience. This store is unique, with a historical angle that takes you on a tour of how people destroyed their teeth through the ages. These days, just make sure you brush well after indulging in whatever sugary confection you try. It doesn't so much have cookies or fudge, there's no ice cream; the majority of it is just pure sugar. They have a selection of single bottled sodas, but they're not refrigerated. It also irks me that most of their items aren't marked with prices at all. You know it won't be cheap but it would be nice to be able to make decisions knowing the price. Still, I almost inevitably shell out for some rock candy.

Such an amazing find! We received quite a history lesson as soon as we entered the little hole in the wall candy shop. Candy was arranged by date (Biblical to recent) and was super interesting! Susan or Suzanne the owner was delightful! They even had my favorite BB bat candy which are pretty much impossible to get! Very fair prices too. The store was rich was history. I'd like to return if I get the chance!

Nice store with lots of cute items. The fudge and nougat I purchased was very yummy and all my friends treats were good as well. I did however, feel that I was treated differently from my friends at the cash register. I watched the line of people in front of me get their items bagged up nicely by the female cashier. When it was my turn for bagging, the woman just tossed me a bag and I had to bag up my own goodies. A small thing that I can't help but think had to do with my skin color. Guess that Old Timey feel extends to more than just the treats! Really made me question the rest of my day and how welcome I really felt in the area. Posting this here as a heads up to other melanin-blessed people - see if the lady gives you the same full service treatment as the other customers or if she rudely tosses you a bag to DIY.

This is a must-stop spot in Harper's Ferry! I had the most lovely visit and conversation here! I learned all about America's oldest candy company - which was started by a female entrepreneur - and absolutely delicious, so don't miss the Lemon Gibralters! This spot felt more like a library than a convenience store, a delightful place to spend some time absorbing history and making some new friends.

Such a great selection of lost candies and other nostalgic treats. They even had a favorite of mine which is potato candy- so delicious. Anyone who likes candy could find something to enjoy. Service was friendly. Recommend!

I am not usually won over by cutesy old fashioned stores, but this shop knows how to do it! Candies and chocolates are throughout the store, and each one is carefully labeled to give you the historical background. My parents loved going through and seeing candy from their childhood, and I had a #RIP moment when I saw packs of Fun Stripes Gum. We walked away with a both a bag of dark chocolate and a bag of milk chocolate Wilbur's buds ($4.25/bag) and a bag of gummy coke bottles ($2-$3). We used to visit the Wilbur's chocolate factory (Home to the original chocolate kiss!) in PA as a family so that was really fun, and my dad just loves gummy coke bottles. We had a lot of fun walking through. The staff was extra nice and knew the history of all of the candies. This looks like a tourist trap, but I definitely say it is well worth a stop!

My kids have enjoyed this place for years. Susan, the owner, is chock full of knowledge about candy & candy history. While my husband and I like the historical candy (who knew candied violets taste so good?) the kids love the more contemporary pop rocks, chocolate bars and lollipops. It's a nice place to stop while you're in HF.

You'd think a place like this would be very expensive, but the prices are very responsible! The owner (Susan I think) is SO sweet (pun not intended) and a joy to talk to. We grabbed a bunch of stuff and it's all delicious.

I stop by every time I'm in Harper's Ferry, and I never leave disappointed. Many of their items bring back memories because I hadn't seen them since I was a child in the 1970s and 1980s. Most recently, I walked away with Turkish Delight (pomengranate) and salted squash seeds. Many of their sweets are not cheap but not outrageously priced either. They have something for everyone.

This unique candy store is our favorite place to visit during our yearly visit to Harper's Ferry. The store boasts unique candy from the Civil War era to now. My personal favorite are the vanilla candy sticks (same texture as peppermint sticks with a vanilla taste). The owners are as sweet as the candy they sell and can give you detailed historical information they sale. They've recently moved to a larger space and now apparently hold historical talks. Such a nice place, be sure to stop by! Totally worth the indulgence!

Ordered for a birthday gift. Delivery was to be between 5/6 and 5/8 received on 5/11 with the chocolate on the candy melted. Paid just as much for shipping as I did the candy for it to come in melted.

Very interesting store. Great way to use candy to teach history. It is very neat and organized with a cute little area to sit and drink a cold soda pop. The candy prices were a little high but the staff was amazingly knowledgeable and helpful. You definitely get your money's worth in the service and fun in learning and also seeing candies from centuries past still available today.

Incredible store! The proprietor, Susan Benjamin, is a candy historian. Do not go in here unless you're prepared to hear some awesome history of the candy she sells, how it's made, the ingredients, and a candy's link to historical events, including slavery. The historical candies are good and earn this place four stars. It's a wide variety of candies made by small confectioners. The history that Susan knows and shares earn the extra star!

I was in town for business and decided to go to historic Harper's Ferry because the area is beautiful and I enjoy a good museum. The shop is located in the basement level and could be easy to miss so keep that in mind. It's set up so that as you walk through the shop, you go through each stage of confectionery from prehistory through the 20th century. They have singular items and gift sets based on time periods or themes. Each of the gift items has a scroll that explains the history of each item. Not only do they sell candy, but also tea, syrups, jellies and jams, as well as cane sugar alternatives like sorghum syrup. This is a great place to find old timey candies that are hard to find. I got the chocolates for lovers which came with a scroll explaining each of the "aphrodisiac" properties of the ingredients. The chocolates had interesting combos such as chocolate and ginger, cinnamon, etc. The chocolates were high quality and hand crafted. The pricing was about $15 for 5 chocolates. While not cheap, I find it on par with other high quality chocolatiers. They do have items at all price points and I thought it was all reasonable. I also purchased several other candy items that were also very high quality. The candy time capsules are great gifts to take home to kids. The ladies that staff the store are incredibly sweet and informative. At no point do they upsell or hard sell. They're there to help you find what you need. The hospitality is above and beyond. Overall, my experience was excellent and I would highly recommend visiting the shop and picking up a few items.

I was so excited to hear that there was a historic candy shop in Harper's Ferry, and I had to stop by. The store itself was pretty underwhelming. I am a historian, so I was excited to see candies that I've only read about, but I was so dismayed to see that most of the historical candies included historically inaccurate ingredients, including artificial colors. People in the 18th and 19th centuries didn't have artificial colors, and they didn't need them--I felt betrayed by the description of the shop as the "only research-based candy store in the country." Perhaps it is research-based, but they've completed disregarded that research when it comes to making candy.

Lots of super super cool candy - is a bit pricy though. Wish prices had been marked!! Oh well.

I love historic candy and I knew this would be the place for me. They had so many candies that I love and I ended up spending over $30 here. Don't let that deceive you, the prices are all reasonable. Very nice atmosphere and helpful employees. Don't even get me started on the heavenly smell!! If you're in Harpers Ferry, you must visit this store.

True Treats is located in the downtown historic area of Harpers Ferry. It is in a lower level of a building on High Street. The store is filled with historical information about candy. There are facts about different decades and the candy that was created. It is a pretty spacious spot for a candy shop. There is not as much product as you think there would be. The staff is extremely friendly and informative. Candy ranges from hundreds of years ago to 1800's and the 1900's. There is chocolate bars, taffy, gummy bears, nerds, and more well known brands. They sell their candy by the weight. It is pricey for what you are actually getting, so I only got one pack of fruit candy.

One of the highlights of my trip to Harpers Ferry! The owner of the store was so welcoming and enthusiastic, she was very happy to talk with us about her shop, history, even music! Great candy and great store. Perfect for gifts.

A lot of interesting candy and treats going back in history. Each package has a little story about the product and its place in time. It is a small store packed with a lot of goodies. Two suggestions to the owner: price your merchandise and sign up for Square for easy check outs. Best of luck on your shop!

Not a large store but chock full of sweets! We enjoyed the lay out, which was chronological starting with 17th century candies then through the years up to the1950s. My sons loved looking at it all. Susan offered to give us any history for candies of interest and it was clear she knew her stuff! We learned about the start of a candy shop in town and three of our selections were related. They have a store in Frederick, MD too which is good to know. Even if you don't like sweets, the store is worth a visit and a chat. We will be back!

This store is amazing, the staff is extremely friendly and know a lot about candy and its history. We kept coming back, it's a wonderful store highly recommend a must see when visiting Harper's Ferry!

What an interesting and cool little place! The owner could not have been friendlier and more informed on the history of candy. Our kids were fascinated by the stories, and loved the candy too. We will be back on the next trip to HF!