Food scientists at Penn State helped perfect one of Pennsylvania’s most famous peanut butter candies. Yes, a university lab played a part in a chocolate shop’s signature treat.
That alone made me want the whole story.
The candy is called a meltaway, and it arrived in the early 1960s. The shop behind it, though, goes back much further.
Its founder started out as a teenager selling sweets from a horse-drawn wagon in 1897.
Today the flagship store holds far more than a candy counter. You’ll find a free candy museum, an old-fashioned ice cream parlor, and a penny candy section built for small hands.
I appreciate how all of it shares one roof.
In my view, few treats carry this much history in a single bite. So what makes this little square worth a road trip?
A Central Pennsylvania Candy Shop That Feels Like It Keeps Going
Candy, ice cream, and history share the same address in one central Pennsylvania railroad town. Gardners Candies runs its flagship store here, and it’s the spot where the brand’s story began.
The shop sits in Tyrone, a Blair County town along the old main rail line. It’s an easy detour for anyone heading between Altoona and State College.
Inside, the layout stretches back farther than you might expect from the street. Chocolate cases come first, followed by a small museum and an ice cream parlor in the back.
That mix is what makes Gardners Candies more than a quick candy stop. You can shop, learn a little, and finish with a scoop, all without moving your car.
The decor leans antique and charming, which suits a business with roots in the 1890s. It feels cared for rather than staged, and the cases stay full of handmade treats.
Of course, one candy put this place on the map. Before getting to it, though, the founder deserves a proper introduction.
His story starts with a wagon, a horse, and a teenager with big plans.
Sixteen Years Old, One Horse, and a Wagon Full of Sweets
Most sixteen-year-olds in 1897 weren’t launching companies. James “Pike” Gardner was, and his first storefront had wheels and a horse.
Pike sold his confections from a horse-drawn wagon around central Pennsylvania. It was a humble start, but it laid the groundwork for a brand that still operates more than a century later.
Think about how much has changed since then. Cars replaced wagons, and candy shops came and went across the state, yet the Gardner name stuck around.
I find it interesting that the whole operation traces back to one young person’s hustle. No investors, no slick marketing, just sweets and a route to travel.
That wagon eventually led to a permanent home in Tyrone. Over the decades, the business grew into a known name for handcrafted chocolates and boxed candies.
So when you hold a box from Gardners Candies today, you’re holding a piece of that long road. It’s a nice thing to remember while deciding between milk and dark chocolate.
Pike’s legacy also sets the stage for the shop’s biggest hit. That one came decades later, with help from a very unexpected partner.
The Square Little Candy That Needed a Science Department
Here’s a fun twist for candy history buffs. The Original Peanut Butter Meltaway was perfected in the early 1960s with help from the Penn State University Food Science Department.
That’s right, a Pennsylvania university helped fine-tune a candy shop’s signature treat. Few chocolates can claim that kind of academic backing.
The meltaway blends peanut butter with sweet chocolate into a creamy square. It’s the item most closely tied to the Gardners Candies name today.
The name itself tells you what the goal was. This candy aims to soften on your tongue rather than make you chew through it.
Peanut butter and chocolate already make a winning team in this state. Still, the meltaway gives the pairing its own smooth, rich personality.
Gardners even uses a registered trademark on the Original Peanut Butter Meltaway name. That little symbol shows how seriously the company takes its star candy.
In my view, the story makes each piece taste a bit more special. You’re not just eating a sweet, you’re tasting a bit of food science teamwork.
Good luck stopping at one after learning all that.
More Than a Dozen Ways to Melt Away
One meltaway was never going to be enough. Since the original debuted, Gardners Candies has created more than a dozen variations on the idea.
That gives you options beyond the classic peanut butter version. A cappuccino meltaway is among the flavors the shop has offered, for example.
Variety like this makes the candy cases fun to explore. You can stick with the original or test how other flavors handle that same soft texture.
Picking a favorite can turn into a friendly family debate. Someone always insists the classic can’t be beaten, and someone else wants something new.
The varieties also make gift boxes easier to build. A mixed box lets you share the meltaway story with people who have never tried one.
Flavors can rotate, so it’s smart to see what’s in the case on your visit. Seasonal lineups may differ from what you find another time of year.
Either way, the original remains the anchor of the whole family. Every new version is a nod to that early 1960s square that started it all, and that’s a tradition worth tasting in several flavors.
Chocolate Cases Loaded With Pretzels, Chips, and Nuts
Salty and sweet fans, this part is for you. Gardners Candies offers chocolate-covered pretzels and chocolate-covered potato chips alongside its famous squares.
Those crunchy picks balance the creamy meltaways nicely. A bag of each makes a pretty convincing snack plan for the drive home.
Nuts get their spotlight too. The shop sells chocolate-covered nut assortments and a roasted nut selection for anyone who likes a little crunch.
Boxed chocolates fill out the lineup for gift-giving. They’re handy for holidays, hostess gifts, or simply treating yourself without apology.
Milk chocolate plays a big role in the selection here. Dark chocolate lovers can still find choices, but milk chocolate shows up front and center.
The sheer range can feel a little overwhelming at first. Friendly staff help shoppers sort through the many options, which makes choosing much less stressful.
One tip: walk the full length of the cases before deciding. The shop goes back farther than it looks, and you don’t want to miss a favorite hiding near the end.
Your sweet tooth will thank you for the extra laps.
Kids Get Their Own Treasure Hunt at the Penny Candy Counter
Small change still goes a long way at one counter in this shop. Gardners Candies keeps a penny candy section stocked with low-cost bites like gummies and tiny wrapped treats.
For kids, it’s pure joy. They get to pick, count, and choose for themselves, which feels like a big deal at that age.
Parents often treat this counter as a rite of passage. Families who grew up visiting now bring their own children back for the same experience.
It’s also a nice lesson in budgeting, sneaky as that sounds. A handful of coins suddenly requires real decision-making.
The counter adds a playful contrast to the fancier boxed chocolates. One side of the shop feels elegant, while this corner feels like a throwback to an old general store.
Grown-ups shouldn’t feel shy about joining in, either. Nostalgia is a strong pull, and nobody is checking IDs at the gummy bins.
If you’re traveling with little ones in Pennsylvania, this stop earns easy points. It turns a candy run into a mini adventure, and that’s a win before the ice cream even enters the picture.
Antique Molds and Old Machines Fill a Free Candy Museum
Free admission and chocolate history? That’s a rare combo, and the Candy Museum inside the Tyrone store delivers both.
The museum sits between the candy shop and the ice cream parlor. It’s compact, so you can enjoy it without carving out a big chunk of your day.
Displays feature antique candy-making equipment and historic molds. Vintage packaging shows how candy boxes looked through the decades.
Older items like ice cream freezers and scales round out the collection. Together, they show how much hands-on work went into candy before modern equipment.
I appreciate how the museum connects the dots for visitors. You see the shiny chocolates up front, then learn what it took to make them long ago.
Kids may find the old machines surprisingly fascinating. Adults often enjoy spotting packaging designs that look familiar from childhood.
It’s a smart place to slow down between shopping and dessert. A few minutes here gives the whole visit more meaning, and it adds a story to every box you carry out.
Not bad for a stop that costs nothing at all.
Today’s Chocolate Making Plays on Screen
History is great, but modern production has its own appeal. The museum includes a video tour showing current factory operations.
That gives you a peek at how Gardners Candies makes its treats now. It’s a nice bridge between the antique displays and the fresh chocolates on the shelves.
Watching candy move through production can be oddly mesmerizing. Chocolate coating, careful handling, and neat rows all look satisfying on screen.
The video also answers a question many shoppers wonder about. Just how do all those squares end up looking so tidy?
Seeing then and now side by side shows how far the craft has come. The goals stay the same, though, which is good chocolate made with care.
For curious kids, the video can spark plenty of questions. Get ready for a few “how does that work” moments on the ride home.
It’s a thoughtful touch for a free museum. Plenty of candy shops simply sell candy, but this one invites you to understand it.
That extra layer makes the visit feel more like a small outing than a quick errand.
Save Room for the Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Parlour
Chocolate first, ice cream second, regrets never. Gardners Candies has an old-fashioned Ice Cream Parlour in the back of the Tyrone store.
It’s a classic way to end a candy shop visit. You can sit down, take a breather, and enjoy a scoop or two.
Milkshakes are part of the lineup as well. That makes the parlor a good pick on warm summer days in Pennsylvania.
Scoop sizes here are known for being generous. Ordering two scoops may leave you with a bigger bowl than you planned on, which is hardly a problem.
Flavor variety gives everyone something to choose. Peanut butter fans can even keep their theme going after a meltaway or two.
Gluten-free options have been available too, which helps families with dietary needs. It’s worth asking staff what’s currently safe for your group.
I appreciate that the parlor keeps its vintage feel. It matches the antique charm of the whole store, so dessert feels like part of the story.
Good luck walking past it on your way out.
A Candy Box Idea With Valentine’s Day Ties
Valentine’s Day has a surprising connection to this family business. According to company history, Pike Gardner teamed up with a local cigar-box maker to create square candy boxes.
Those square boxes, the story goes, evolved into heart-shaped versions. Hearts eventually became the familiar look of Valentine’s chocolate.
It’s a charming bit of lore for a shop that started on a wagon. Packaging may seem minor, yet it shapes how people give and remember gifts.
I find it interesting that a box idea could travel so far. One small change in shape helped turn candy into a symbol of affection.
Gardners Candies still leans into gift boxes today. Their assortments make easy presents for holidays, birthdays, and thank-you moments.
Valentine’s season naturally brings special attention to boxed chocolates. A Pennsylvania-made box with this backstory makes a thoughtful gift.
Next time you see a heart-shaped box in a store, you’ll have a fun fact ready. Share it with your sweetheart, then share the chocolate too.
That last part matters more, honestly.
Late Hours and Easy Parking Make Planning Simple
Evening candy cravings are covered here. The flagship store opens Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Those long hours make it easy to fit a stop into a road trip. You can swing by after dinner, after a hike, or after a Penn State game day.
You’ll find Gardners Candies at 30 W 10th St, Tyrone, PA 16686. The town sits in Blair County, between Altoona and State College.
Street parking has been readily available nearby. That keeps the stop quick and low-stress, especially with kids in tow.
Hours can shift around holidays, so check before heading out. A quick look ahead saves you from staring longingly through a dark window.
Prices land in specialty-chocolate territory rather than gas-station candy. Plan your treat budget with that in mind, especially if milkshakes are on the list.
Fall foliage trips and winter weekends both pair nicely with a visit. A warm shop full of chocolate makes a cozy stop when the central Pennsylvania air turns crisp.
Why This Sweet Stop Belongs on Your Weekend List
Few stops cover this many bases at once. Gardners Candies offers handmade chocolates, a free museum, penny candy, and an ice cream parlor under one roof.
Families get plenty to keep kids happy. Couples get a sweet date stop, and history fans get a story stretching back to 1897.
The Original Peanut Butter Meltaway remains the headline act. Trying one where the tradition lives feels different from grabbing a box elsewhere.
Can’t make the drive soon? Online ordering lets you ship chocolates to friends and family far from Pennsylvania.
Still, the in-person visit is where the charm really shows. The antique details, the museum, and the parlor all add flavor that a shipping box can’t match.
In my view, this is the kind of place that turns a regular drive into a memory. It’s small-town, friendly, and proudly rooted in its own past.
So plan a weekend detour and bring a little extra room in the car. Somebody will want a mixed box, somebody will want a scoop, and everybody will want a meltaway.