Clear Toy Candy – a PA Treat at Franklin Fountain in Philadelphia

UPDATE 2/2012: Just to keep everyone up-to-date I just got an email letting me know that Franklin Fountain is closing TEMPORARILY to improve the store “Franklin Fountain
closed for Expansion Begining Tuesday, February 21st: In order to improve your Franklin Fountain experience even more, we will be closed starting on Tuesday, February 21st for minor renovations. We’re expanding our preparation space and adding an additional ice cream freezer! We are also adding another 1920′s twelve-foot marble front counter and an additional beautiful brass cash register! Our soda jerks will be able to scoop in more places for faster service and ensure an enjoyable experience for all! Warm Regards! Eric Berley, Ryan Berley and Staff”

You can still get your Sweet On at Shane Candies just down the block, and I’ll keep an eye out for when the fountain re-opens!

I could not let one more holiday moment go by without sharing with you the clear toy candy that the Franklin Fountain folks hand make every Christmas season from authentic molds.

Franklin Fountain is  a “new but looks old” place that is totally charming in its turn of the century soda fountain ways, and will get it’s own proper write up once ice cream season resumes, but for now, I’m simply raving about their clear candy.

Clear Toy Candy is a Pennsylvania-German tradition that dates to the 18th century when children were gifted them during the holiday season. These candies are handmade in historic Old City, Philadelphia using antique Victorian hard candy molds. Molds were made in Philadelphia at the turn-of-the-century and were in continuous use by Young’s Candies on Girard Avenue since 1897. When Young’s closed in 2006, the Berley Brothers purchased their collection of over 250 molds and are continuing the Philadelphia tradition of clear toy candymaking from their Old City soda fountain.

While these charming folks behind the counter aren’t the ones who waited on me when Retro Roadhusband and I popped in here before a show, I will say that I was beyond impressed with the help I received when trying to pick out 3 candies that were different but also exactly the same, so that the Retro Roadkids would not bicker about who got the better gift. Our pleasant clerk headed “upstairs” to see what they had in additional stock and came back with a selection that was just spot on perfect!

(Thanks to intrepid reporter Constance H for the daytime photos)

And if this hasn’t totally convinced you of the charms and delights of Clear Toy Candy – here’s a video look at the behind the scenes making of these holiday treats!

Edited to add: Who knew that I was on the cutting edge of coolness with my post about Clear Toy Candy at Franklin Fountain! Here’s a link to their December 2009 blog where they let spill that not one but two Food Network shows will feature the Fountain!  Marc Summers stopped by to host the acclaimed “Unwrapped” show and “American Classics”  will document their Clear Toy Candy making process. There are more interesting tid-bits in their Scoop, so click the link and have a look!

Clear Toy Candy at Franklin Fountain
116 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 627-1899

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