It doesn’t matter how old or young you may be. There’s something about stepping into an old-fashioned candy shop that never fails to fill you with a childlike sense of wonder. Whether it’s being surrounded by all those homemade sweets or the atmosphere that looks straight from a bygone era, we will always have a soft spot for this type of candy shop…especially if it’s Nelson’s Columbia Candy Kitchen! This Old World-style store is considered the oldest candy shop in Northern California, and it’s truly no wonder why. These sweets are so good that we could simply never get sick of them. Check it out:
Serving up "pure as gold" candies since 1926, Nelson's Columbia Candy Kitchen is a sweet destination that is bound to make you feel like a kid again. This old-fashioned candy shop will win your heart from the moment you step inside.
The Candy Kitchen's legacy began in the bustling gold rush town of Columbia, California (which is now Columbia State Historic Park) when a Danish confectioner settled here in the late 1800s. A fellow Danish miner by the name of C. Rex Nelson took over in the 1930s, and the Nelson family has been serving up sweets ever since.
Four generations of the Nelson family have played a part in turning the Candy Kitchen into the sweet shop that it is today. They still do things the old-fashioned way, cooking up their candies in bright copper kettles and cooling them on century-old marble tables.
With candies like this, it's easy to see why USA Today included Nelson's among the Top 10 Sweet Shops Across America. We definitely have to agree! From signature hand-dipped chocolates to brittles, hard drops, licorice, and caramels—you'll want to try it all.
Of course, chocolate is the heart and soul of Nelson's Candy Kitchen. Using Guittard chocolate which has been manufactured in California since 1864, you'll find a vast selection of chocolate-covered nuts, fruits, caramels, and creams waiting to be tried at the shop.
The flagship store is obviously an important piece of Nelson's history. Located within Columbia State Historic Park, this is where they make approximately 85% of all their confections. However, they have two other equally charming locations which can be found in Murphys and Sonora.
Take a trip back in time when you visit the century-old Nelson's Columbia Candy Kitchen here in Northern California. This shop is old-fashioned in all the right ways, and it makes for a sweet destination you'll want to return to again and again.
