A small candy shop has been making its own chocolate since 1920. That’s over a century of sugar, sweetness, and after-school treats in one storefront.
The cases still hold soft fruit slices, licorice allsorts, brittle, and chocolate-covered potato chips. Grown-ups who once spent pennies there as kids still come back to fill bags today.
I love that kind of loyalty, because it can’t be faked.
This family-run spot sits in a quiet corner of South Jersey, far from the mall crowds. It feels like proof that New Jersey still protects its old-school treasures.
Little hands can pick fruit slice flavors while parents eye the dark chocolate.
I can’t imagine a cheaper way to make a kid’s whole afternoon. So where exactly is this sugary time capsule, and what should you grab first?
A Century-Old Candy Counter Just Minutes From Cherry Hill
Merchantville is a small Camden County borough, and it holds one very sweet secret. Aunt Charlotte’s Candies has been part of the town since 1920.
The shop sits on West Maple Avenue, an easy hop from Cherry Hill and the Route 130 corridor. Philadelphia is close enough that a candy run can fit into almost any South Jersey afternoon.
So what kind of place is it? Think old-fashioned sweet shop with chocolates made right on site, plus a big lineup of gifts.
The building itself has real character, with a look that stands apart from modern chain stores. Displays run long and neat, packed with candy in every color you could name.
That mix matters, because few shops still make their own chocolate and sell nostalgic loose candy side by side. You get both worlds here, and neither feels like an afterthought.
The family-run spirit shows up in small touches, from careful displays to the free treats sometimes handed out at the register. It’s the kind of local business New Jersey families love to brag about.
Honestly, it’s earned the bragging rights after more than a hundred years.
Penny Candy Memories That Span Generations
Some shoppers here first came in holding a grandparent’s hand. Now they bring their own kids, and the cycle keeps rolling.
One longtime Merchantville native remembers stopping in after school for penny candy decades ago. That sort of memory explains why Aunt Charlotte’s Candies feels more like a town tradition than a store.
Founded in 1920, the shop has outlasted fads, recessions, and the rise of big-box candy aisles. It stays family-run, which helps it keep the same warm feel year after year.
Plenty of former locals make it a stop whenever they visit home. Others drive in from neighboring towns once a year, almost like a holiday ritual.
The smells and colors seem to stick in people’s heads for life. Older fans often describe the store as looking much the way they remember it.
Can you name another shop that hasn’t needed a reinvention in a century? That steadiness is rare anywhere, let alone along a busy stretch of South Jersey.
Pennies don’t stretch quite as far today, of course. Still, the joy of a small paper bag of sweets hasn’t changed one bit.
House-Made Chocolate That Steals The Whole Show
Chocolate-covered potato chips. Let that sink in for a second, because they’re a fan favorite here.
Aunt Charlotte’s Candies makes its chocolates in-house, and staff work steadily to keep the cases stocked. You’ll find milk, dark, and white chocolate across a huge spread of treats.
The dipped lineup gets playful fast. Pretzels, rice krispies, and marshmallows all get the chocolate treatment, alongside truffles and filled eggs.
Dark chocolate earns a lot of love from shoppers. So do the Irish Potatoes, a classic Philadelphia-area sweet that fits right in on this side of the river.
Mint melts shaped like flowers and leaves add a pretty touch to the case. They look almost too nice to eat, though that feeling doesn’t last long.
Boxed assortments make the chocolate easy to share, if you have that kind of willpower. Many people call a box from this shop one of the best gifts around.
Freshness is the big win when everything is made on site. Grab a mix, compare milk against dark, and settle the family debate the delicious way.
Fruit Slices, Licorice, And Other Small-Budget Thrills
Kids get serious when choosing fruit slice flavors. It’s a big decision, and the staff here seem happy to let them take their time.
Those fruit slices are famously soft and fresh at Aunt Charlotte’s Candies. Licorice allsorts sit nearby with a texture fans rave about, plus gummies and brittle in many styles.
This is where the pocket-change spirit lives on. A child with a little spending money can still walk out with a bag of something special.
Prices may shift over time, like they do everywhere. Even so, longtime shoppers often point out that the costs stay reasonable for the quality you get.
Marzipan shows up too, for anyone who loves an old-world treat. Brittle fans have several choices, which makes picking just one a fun little challenge.
Small purchases matter in a place like this. They let families make a stop special without turning it into a splurge.
That’s a big part of the appeal in New Jersey, where a fun outing can get pricey quickly. Here, a modest handful of coins can still spark a grin that lasts all the way home.
Easter Bunnies, Fall Marshmallows, And Holiday Madness
Every type of chocolate bunny you could imagine lines up when spring arrives. Easter might be the shop’s biggest moment of the year.
The Easter selection at Aunt Charlotte’s Candies includes filled chocolate eggs, characters in all three chocolate styles, and gorgeous premade baskets. Building a full basket in one stop is very doable.
Other seasons bring their own treats. Candy-covered marshmallows show up in the fall, and Mother’s Day chocolate sets come in beautiful packaging.
Thanksgiving and Christmas get their share of sweets too. Basically, if a holiday exists, there’s probably candy for it here.
Fair warning, though, because popularity has a price. The store can get extremely crowded around Easter and Christmas, with long lines at the registers.
A number machine sits by the door for those busy stretches. Grab a ticket as soon as you arrive, then browse while you wait.
Patience pays off, and many fans say the wait is worth it. Still, a weekday morning well before the holiday rush may make the trip much calmer for little ones.
Plush Pals And Free Gift Wrapping For Easy Presents
Stuffed animals peek out from shelves all over the store. Somehow, they make every candy purchase feel like a full-blown present.
Aunt Charlotte’s Candies stocks far more than sweets. Plushies, snow globe trinkets, decorative dishes, and thoughtfully chosen knickknacks fill out the gift side of things.
Pairing a teddy bear with a box of truffles takes about ten seconds. It’s an easy win for birthdays, teachers, grandparents, or a friend who needs a lift.
Here’s a perk worth knowing about. Staff will gift wrap boxed candy, and shoppers can often pick the paper they like.
That wrapping has been offered free during the holidays. It saves time, tape, and the usual battle with scissors at the kitchen table.
The finished packages tend to look polished and festive. Nobody needs to know you skipped the wrapping-paper aisle entirely.
Gift shoppers may want to plan extra time during peak seasons, since wrapping happens at the counter. On a quiet afternoon, though, you could leave with a beautifully done present and a little treat for yourself.
Know Before You Go: Hours, Bags, And That Number Machine
Sundays are off-limits, so plan your sugar run accordingly. The shop opens Monday through Saturday from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
You’ll find Aunt Charlotte’s Candies at 5 W Maple Ave, Merchantville, NJ 08109. It’s an easy drive from Cherry Hill, Pennsauken, and Haddonfield.
Bring your own bag if you have one. New Jersey no longer hands out plastic bags at stores, though the shop has some reusable options.
That number machine by the entrance matters on busy days. Take a ticket right away, especially in the weeks before Easter and Christmas.
Checkout can feel a bit jumbled when crowds are heavy. Staff work from behind the counters, so give yourself a little extra breathing room.
Kids are clearly welcome here, and the team is known for being kind to young shoppers. Friendly service comes up again and again among the shop’s biggest strengths.
The store is large enough to wander, so leave time to explore. A quick pop-in can easily turn into a half-hour hunt for the perfect mix.
Why This Sweet Little Shop Deserves A Spot On Your Weekend
A 4.8-star rating across more than 660 Google reviews says plenty. Very few small shops hold that kind of glow for so long.
Aunt Charlotte’s Candies delivers what New Jersey families crave: a low-cost outing with real history behind it. You can spend a little or a lot, and both feel just right.
The chocolate is the headliner, no question. Yet the fruit slices, brittle, and plush friends make it fun for every age and budget.
I like that the shop hasn’t tried to become something trendy. It simply keeps making candy the way it has since 1920.
Timing makes a difference, so aim for a regular weekday if crowds stress you out. Holiday visits bring buzz and long lines, which some people actually enjoy.
Pair the trip with a stroll around Merchantville’s quiet, leafy streets. It’s a gentle reminder that the Garden State has plenty of charm off the highway.
So empty that change jar and round up the kids. A small bag of sweets from this century-old shop might become your family’s next favorite tradition.
