Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store

Last week, I went on a road trip with some of the board members and staff of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN). I serve on the board and we were carpooling in a giant van to Fairmont, Minnesota, for a board retreat.

Because MCN’s St. Paul office is about two-and-a-half hours from Fairmont by car, we planned to make one pitstop during the drive. Prior to the trip, our parking lot conversation led to something that reminded me of candy cigarettes, which most of us remembered from our childhood. We wondered if they were still being made because their sole purpose seems to be encouraging children to take up smoking. Yeesh!

As we got going, someone realized that Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store in Jordan, Minnesota, was on the route and suggested we make our pitstop there. We were all game.

When we rolled up to the giant, bright yellow store, I wondered how I had never heard of it before. There’s absolutely no missing it!

When I walked in, I was so overwhelmed by the long rows of candy that my eyes practically popped out of my head and rolled down the aisles.

 

 

We set ourselves a time limit of ten minutes in the store, so I concentrated hard on picking out a few things, but, damn, it was difficult!

I settled on raspberry-shaped hard candies (a childhood favorite), lemon drops, a Pearson’s Salted Nut Roll for me, and a Pearson’s Nut Goodie for Erik.

As I made my way to the end of the building with the cash registers, I looked up and saw a giant peeking through the clouds and realized there was an entire world of themed murals on the ceilings of the store.

After paying (they take cash or checks only, offering an ATM on-site if you don’t have either), I ran around the store looking at all the murals and large character statues throughout. There was the Incredible Hulk and Hulk Buster (who I mistook for a Transformer).

 

There were areas featuring The Incredibles, Frozen, Paw Patrol, and Baby Shark, among other characters.

There were also a couple of old-school fortune-telling machines, including Zoltar and Pappy.

There was simply too much to absorb in a single, short trip. Based on the number of photos I took, I’d say we were there longer than ten minutes.

But, I still didn’t have a chance to examine everything, like the products they offer outside of candy, including pies, an entire section of soda pop, apples, and jigsaw puzzles. According to the sign outside, Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store is also America’s Largest Puzzle Store.

As to the apples, according to Wikipedia, the business got started selling apples and added candy in order to boost customers. Indeed, you make checks out to “Jim’s Apple Farm” at the cash register.

One of our group members bought an apple pie to share during the board retreat and it was DEEEEE-LICIOUS!!

Other group members bought Laffy Taffy and fudge to share, along with a box of [drumroll, please … ] candy cigarettes. Yes, they are still manufactured and sold to kids of all ages. I snagged a box for nostalgia.

Whether you go for the candy, the apples, the puzzles, or the decor, Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store is worth a visit. Just give yourself plenty of time to look around and remember to bring cash.

If you want to see the store in its current location along Highway 169 in Jordan, better plan to make the trip soon-ish. The store will be moving to a new location within the next couple of years due to highway renovations. It promises to be even bigger in its new location.