Shane Confectionery

The interior is a perfect example of turn-of-the-century shop design. ljburmeister (Atlas Obscura User)

Pastel shelves and counters keep things light and sweet. Brit Sauvé (Used With Permission)

Some of the handmade delights on offer. Ray Motlasz (Used With Permission)

A vibrant front-window display. Gerard (Used With Permission)

The shelving and molding of Shane dates to a renovation from around 1910. ljburmeister (Atlas Obscura User)

The vintage cash register still works. Ryan Pup Chaö (Used With Permission)

A dusting of gold on a batch of chocolates. Melinda Beck (Used With Permission)

Sweets, safely behind glass—for now. Martina Ida Polanco (Used With Permission)

Don't miss the Chocolate Cafe in the back of the shop! blimpcaptain (Atlas Obscura User)

The storefront. Fred Cherrygarden (Atlas Obscura User)

Colorful candy tempting visitors. Fred Cherrygarden (Atlas Obscura User)

Exterior. Fred Cherrygarden (Atlas Obscura User)

With its pastel color scheme and historic decor, Shane Confectionery is the sweetest survivor of Philadelphia’s 19th-century retail revolution.

In 1863, Samuel Herring—of the then-renowned confectioner Herrings—opened a wholesale business at 110 Market Street. His son, also named Samuel, was busy fighting for the Union in the Civil War, but when he returned in 1865, he took over the shop. With fellow confectioner Daniel S. Dengler, Samuel did a brisk trade in wholesale ingredients, including glucose, dates, nuts, and cocoa.

Wholesale was fine and dandy, but the pedestrians of Philadelphia had sweet teeth to sate. In 1910, a young man by the name of Edward R. Shane bought and renovated the confectionery, turning it into a glittering jewel box of retail-friendly treats. Stained-glass windows, storefront showcases, and shelves lined with candy jars beckoned visitors to try Shane’s wares.

When the Berley Brothers purchased the confectionery in 2010, they kept the Shane name, in recognition of the family’s 99-year operation of the store. Thanks to a major restoration effort, Shane Confectionery’s early 20th-century decor shines as brightly as it did in the 1910s.

Naturally, old-fashioned treats are abundant: Turkish Taffy, jawbreakers, and candy cobblestones are among the throwback offerings. Shane’s Clear Toy Candy, made by pouring colored molten sugar into 19th-century molds, is a particular fan favorite. But it’s not all old-timey: The vegan sour gummies, CBD chocolates, and single-origin 70 percent cocoa bars make it clear that the 21st century has arrived.