Wilson Candies Jeannette PA

Wilson Candies in Jeannette PA was a place that our friend Judi had been tempting me with for a couple of months.

As I mentioned in previous posts, Judi had lived in the area as a teenager. This was her first return visit since then. While Steve and I were off visiting parts of Texas, Judi and her husband were enjoying late Spring and early Summer in New Stanton, PA – her old stomping grounds.

We were scheduled to spend the month of July as their neighbors in the same RV Park. Judi would constantly send me enticing tidbits about place she used to haunt as a teen. The two most memorable were Wilson Candies and DeLallo Italian Marketplace. And we couldn’t wait to check both places out!

Established in 1947 (the same year I was born), Wilson Candy has been producing delicious, high-quality chocolates in Jeannette, Pennsylvania for well over 70 years!

Though they have opened another location in Greensburg, closer to our RV park, Judi used to visit the original location on Harrison. That’s where the candy is made and that’s where we went.

From the beginning in 1947 to today, their factory on Harrison Avenue had been manufacturing chocolates and candies from the very same recipes handed down from over 3 generations. Superior quality is ingrained in everything they do. At Wilson Candies they still hand-dip their various chocolates just as they did in the beginning. They still make their own soft centers, marshmallow, peanut butter, caramels and chews in-house!

It all began on February 12, 1947, when brother and sister duo Paul and Margaret Wilson opened Wilson Candies for business.

Paul had been a hospital administrator in Panama during WWII and his sister was working at a candy business in Jeannette. When Paul came home from the war he had no job and no prospects. It was  Margaret who suggested that they pool their money and open their own candy business.

That’s when they bought the lot on Harrison Avenue, which is  still the current manufacturing location and one of the two stores in western Pennsylvania. The original name of the store was Peggy Jane Candies. Peggy was a nickname for Margaret and Jane was Paul’s wife’s name.

The name was changed to Wilson Candy Co. in 1953. And the Wunder Bar, that made them famous, was introduced a year later in 1954 and it’s still a classic to this day!

Paul’s son Doug took over the reins and after 40 years of running the business, decided it was time to retire. Selling the business was a difficult decision, but Rob Kane, a production manager at the factory for over 25 years and close family friend expressed an interest. The business transitioned owners without the change of the name or any of the Wilson family values.

But on July 1, 2024 Mark Lewis and Megan Wilson officially became owners of Wilson’s Candy, returning the candy shop to the Wilson Family.

“To this day, Wilson Candy still uses the original recipes and techniques that started the business. Hand-dipped chocolates and our signature chocolate recipes are what people come back for, year to year!”

And my waistline and Steve’s can attest to just how good their candies are. We bought chocolates there 4 times while in the area. The chocolates are so smooth and creamy that you can’t eat just one!!!

Next time I will tell you all about DeLallo Italian Marketplace, a foodies paradise!!!