Sugar lovers, prepare for a delicious secret — New Jersey is hiding some of the best candy shops on the East Coast.
Beyond the boardwalk crowds and flashy storefronts, locals guard these sweet spots like treasured family recipes. Step inside and you’ll find handmade chocolates, old-school taffy, and shelves stacked with childhood favorites you forgot even existed.
These places aren’t polished tourist traps. They’re cozy, nostalgic, and bursting with personality — the kind of shops where sugar dust lingers in the air and every purchase feels personal.
If you think you’ve tasted it all, think again. These hidden New Jersey candy shops turn simple cravings into full-blown obsession — one unforgettable bite at a time.
Shriver’s Salt Water Taffy & Fudge — Ocean City
Step onto the Ocean City boardwalk and you can smell Shriver’s before you see it. This century old landmark pulls salt water taffy with a rhythm that feels like summer itself, and you can watch the machines stretch ribbons of glossy sweetness.
You get a front row view as classic beach flavors turn into bite sized souvenirs that actually taste like vacation.
Go for the vanilla and chocolate swirl taffy first, then grab a box of fudge with sea salt sprinkled on top. The counter team moves fast but stays friendly, ready with samples if you hesitate.
There is something about hearing paper boxes snap shut that makes the whole visit feel extra special.
If you want to keep things simple, ask for an assorted mix and let the staff read your mood. Caramel, peanut butter, and the surprisingly great licorice will cover bases you did not know you had.
Do not forget a few fruit chews for the ride home, because leaving the island without a stash is a rookie mistake.
Aunt Charlotte’s Candies — Merchantville
Aunt Charlotte’s feels like stepping into a family album where every page is coated in chocolate. You walk past glass cases glinting with hand dipped cherries, butter creams, and clusters that snap in the best way.
The staff wraps boxes with quick hands and kind smiles, then slips in a map of seasonal favorites like they are sharing a secret.
Start with the dark chocolate nonpareils, because the crunch to melt ratio hits perfectly. Then wander to the brittle trays where toasted almonds hum under a warm caramel note.
If you like adventure, ask what just cooled in the kitchen and brace for something fresh and still fragrant.
There is a sweet ritual here worth keeping. Pick a ribbon color, sign the little tag, and gift yourself like you would a friend.
You leave with a tidy box and the feeling that Merchantville keeps time differently inside these doors.
Laurie’s Homemade Candy — Wayne
Laurie’s looks small from the sidewalk, then opens into a wonderland of hand rolled truffles and clean snap barks. You get close to the glass and can spot the delicate swirl that proves these chocolates were tempered with care.
The air carries vanilla and orange zest, so tasting feels like following breadcrumbs to the back kitchen.
Grab a mixed box with raspberry ganache, hazelnut praline, and a clever espresso bite that lingers. The sea salt caramel is the shop’s handshake, soft centered and balanced enough to win over skeptics.
If you love texture, the pistachio bark crunches like new snow without being too sweet.
There is no hard sell here, just friendly nudges and a few generous samples. Ask about seasonal specials and you might score a limited run that locals hide at home.
Wayne gets busy, but a quick stop at Laurie’s turns any errand into a small celebration.
Reily’s Candy — Medford
Reily’s in Medford has that old school candy kitchen charm where copper kettles tell stories. You can almost hear the crackle of cooling toffee on a marble slab behind the counter.
The cases brim with butter creams, molasses paddles, and caramels that sit soft but hold their shape like they mean it.
Start with the dark chocolate butter creams, because the filling is silky and not cloying. Then lean into the toffee, a golden sheet dusted with almonds that breaks with a confident snap.
If you are team nostalgia, the molasses paddles deliver deep notes that warm up slowly and last.
Staff members know their regulars by mix, so do not be shy sharing what you crave. They will steer you to small batch runs that vanish by weekend.
Tuck an extra bag of caramels into your order, since one never seems like enough once the box opens.
Black River Candy Shoppe — Chester
Black River Candy Shoppe is a technicolor time machine on Chester’s main drag. Barrels brim with taffy while towering jars guard classics like root beer barrels, Necco wafers, and gum drops.
You wander with a scoop and paper bag, doing the math that only candy math understands.
This place shines for retro lovers and families on a mission. Licorice ropes stretch like playground challenges, and sour belts dare you to pull faces.
The staff knows exactly where the hard to find candies hide and will point you to a rack you did not know existed.
Mix high nostalgia with a few modern gummies for balance. Before you leave, check the register display for chocolate covered pretzels that push the bag over the top.
Chester does cozy well, and this shop anchors the feeling with color, crunch, and a little childhood back.
Candy Lane On Main — Clinton
Candy Lane On Main feels like Clinton bottled joy and lined it up by color. The display windows pull you inside to tidy cubes of gummies and a wall of small batch chocolate bars.
It is the kind of place where you point and the staff reads your sweet personality in seconds.
Try the sour rainbow mix for a zing that lands but does not linger too long. Pair it with a single origin dark chocolate bar that melts slow and finishes clean.
If you like something playful, the champagne bears sparkle without tasting fake.
There is a make your own bag station that keeps kids busy and adults weirdly focused. Grab a few novelty sodas for the road and call it a mini adventure.
Clinton is picturesque, and this shop makes the picture taste as good as it looks.
Sugar Bear Candy Store — Lawrenceville
Sugar Bear is Lawrenceville’s cheerful sugar stop with a grin right on the wall. A bright bear mascot watches over self serve bins that clink pleasantly as scoops dig in.
There are chocolate cases too, so both gummy fans and cocoa loyalists leave happy.
Build a mix with peach rings, sour cherries, and those cola bottles that disappear first. Then ask for chocolate cashew clusters to add a grown up note.
The balance keeps the bag from turning into a single flavor sprint.
Staff here make suggestions like friends who know your order already. They will point to fresh restocks and small surprises near the register.
Take a walk through town after, because Sugar Bear energy travels well and pairs perfectly with a sunny sidewalk.
IT’SUGAR American Dream — East Rutherford
IT’SUGAR at American Dream is loud, bright, and totally over the top in the best mall way. You step into towering gummy displays and neon signs that turn shopping into a spectacle.
It is part candy, part theme park, and absolutely built for photos and group energy.
Go big with giant sour belts or novelty boxes that could stock a party. Balance the haul with a curated mix from the bulk bins where surprises rotate often.
If you like branded treats, this is where playful collabs show up first and sell out fast.
The staff runs with upbeat tempo and keeps lines moving even on wild weekends. Plan time to wander because the store rewards curiosity around every corner.
By the time you exit into the mall buzz, your bag will match the neon grin on the sign.
Berkeley Sweet Shop — Seaside Heights
Berkeley Sweet Shop is that Seaside Heights staple where fudge slabs gleam under warm lights. You wander in off the boardwalk, still sandy, and go straight for chocolate covered pretzels with a perfect crunch.
The team behind the counter moves with confidence and keeps samples generous.
Choose a half pound of fudge, split between peanut butter and chocolate walnut. Then add salt water taffy in sunny flavors that taste like summer in a twist.
If you spot fresh caramel apples, do not overthink it, just say yes and thank yourself later.
There is nothing fussy here, just seawind sweetness and a little arcade echo in the background. You leave with a striped bag and sticky fingers that tell the real story.
On a cool night, the fudge somehow tastes even better walking back past the lights.
Candylicious of Randolph — Randolph
Candylicious of Randolph is the neighborhood crowd pleaser that quietly stocks surprises. One aisle leans retro, another goes global, and the counter shows off small batch chocolates.
You can do a quick scoop and go or linger and build a themed box for movie night.
Grab international chips and quirky sodas to ride shotgun with gummies and chews. Then choose a few truffles to keep it classy without getting precious.
The staff is patient with kids counting coins and adults debating sour levels.
Expect clean, bright shelves and plenty of chance to discover something new. Ask for recommendations by flavor mood and get a custom road map.
You will walk out with a bag that feels curated but still playful, which is the sweet spot here.
Lee Sims Chocolates — Jersey City
Lee Sims in Jersey City has elegant old world energy that makes chocolate feel like ceremony. Marble counters gleam, ribbons wait in tidy stacks, and butter creams line up like tiny tuxedos.
The vibe whispers slow down, choose carefully, then savor every square.
Go straight for the assorted butter creams, especially in dark chocolate. The caramels sit soft with a deep cooked sugar note that satisfies without sticking.
If you like texture, the nut clusters are generous and balanced so nothing overwhelms the chocolate.
Service is gracious but efficient, and gift boxes look like instant occasions. You can run in on a lunch break and still feel like you treated yourself well.
Jersey City moves fast outside, but inside Lee Sims the clock politely waits.
Krause’s Homemade Candies — Paterson
Krause’s in Paterson brings a proud homemade spirit to every tray of chocolates. You notice the sheen on the enrobed pieces and the confident snap when you share one.
Behind the counter, there is usually a hint of caramel in the air that signals a fresh batch.
Order a mix of sea salt caramels, butter crunch, and maple creams if you want range. The butter crunch is the sleeper hit, toasty and layered under a tidy chocolate coat.
For holiday time, ask about molded chocolates that look charming without turning kitsch.
The team treats regulars like family and newcomers like soon to be regulars. Expect thoughtful suggestions and maybe a bonus sample if you seem curious.
Step back onto the street with a ribboned box and a plan to guard it till you get home.