Schimpff's Confectionery
When our candy collection started growing, we found out that there was a quaint little candy shop that also had a candy museum located in Jeffersonville, Indiana called Schimpff's Confectionery and we knew we just had to go.
The Schimpff family began making candy in 1850 and in 1891 moved into their current location at 347 Spring Street and have been there ever since.
To the best of our knowledge, we believe that this is the oldest operating confectionery business in the same location -- over 125 years!
Upon entering the building, we were immediately transported back in time. We were lucky enough to arrive at the right time, and watched the current owners Warren and Jill Schimpff make their most popular candy (cinnamon red hots) the old fashioned way. They boil sugar, corn syrup and water in an old copper kettle to the perfect temperature and then transport it to a cooling table where
cinnamon flavoring is added by hand. When it reaches the correct consistency, the warm candy is fed through a candy forming machine called a drop roller that dates back to the late 1800's. When the candy has cooled, they break it apart and give you a piece of cinnamon candy...doesn't get much fresher than that!
After watching their demonstration, we went back to their museum where they have thousands of pieces of American candy memorabilia ranging from hand-crank candy forming machines to various types of advertising items including signs, boxes, tins and jars just to name a few.
Their vast display appeals to young and old alike and is a mecca for candy collectors like us.
To our knowledge, this is the largest candy museum in the United States, if not the world! We can only dream of having a collection like theirs one day.
So, if you ever find yourself in South Indiana just across the river from Louisville, KY be sure to stop by Schimpff's and be truly amazed at this family run business that has stood the test of time.
Though they are famous for their cinnamon red hots, our favorite is the dark chocolate cinnamon creams -- they are the perfect combination of creamy chocolate and spicy cinnamon. We think you'll agree they will become your favorite too!
For more information about Schimpffs, visit
