Sweet memories come back despite quarantine and pandemic realities thanks to Zoom and a slowed down world. One of our free-wheeling conversations among 10 best friends came around to the subject of candy. The important distinction between ‘Buckeyes’ and ‘Bullseyes’ was initially paramount. After that, the memories of buying candy from the penny candy counter came back in sweet little bits. Please share yours.
“I fondly recall the original caramel bullseye candies. And the childhood candy stores, some of which were true blue ‘Mom and Pop’ shops. My fondest memory is of Nate’s on Montrose between Ashland and Paulina, 1/2 block from my grammar school. Our lunch was an hour long at home. After wolfing down pancakes or grilled cheese ‘samiches’ or fried bologna I would head to Nate’s before school continued at 1pm. The line of kids was out the door. Sy and Marianne owned a tiny little store that had a penny candy counter. Marianne had a small change box and watched the candy counter like a hawk. She bossed us to pick fast because kids were waiting. My mom used to tease Nate. One time, she asked Nate for a dozen button holes. He looked all over his store trying to please mom. She told that story a hundred times.”
Larry E.
“There was a small store, (and I mean really small) called The Lee Street Store. It was about 2 blocks from my house. I think it was like a 7 Eleven, but all I really remember was the penny candy. They had everything, Pixie Sticks, black and red licorice, jaw breakers, candy dots on paper, tootsie rolls, Mary Janes, waxed lips, those little bottles that were filled with colored sweetened liquid, Bazooka bubblegum and I’m sure there was much more. I would take my allowance of 10 cents up there and come home with a “big” bag of candy. The owners lived above the store.”
Janet B.
My favorite penny candy store was appropriately called Ma & Pa Candies in downtown La Grange. When you walked in, you could smell the sugar. It was a narrow storefront with counters that seemed to made of planks on sawhorses. There was red gingham fabric tacked around the counters and tilted glass jars of candy with scoops. It was always bustling especially because it was a few doors away from the La Grange movie theater. We’d stock up before the show. I loved rock candy, gum drops and candy dots and nonpareils (aka Snowcaps).
Ann A.