The sweet story behind Abbott’s Candies

Abbott’s Candies isn’t just a familiar Wayne County favorite for old-fashioned confections like caramels, chocolates and other sweet treats. It’s also the oldest candy store in Indiana.

Founder W.C. Abbott worked as a traveling salesman before opening his own restaurant back in his hometown of Hagerstown, developing recipes along the way for butterscotch, taffy and chocolate drops. As demand for his delicious products grew, he eventually sold the café to focus on the burgeoning candy factory he officially launched in 1890. Some of the equipment and tools Abbott relied on more than 130 years ago are actually still in use today.

After W.C.’s death in 1942 (and a pause in production during World War II), his son Bruce took over the family business, expanding and updating the operation to improve efficiency. Bruce’s sudden passing in 1949 left his wife, Rhea, and his mother, Florence, in charge, heralding in another era of Abbott’s leadership. Under Rhea’s direction, the company relocated into a converted historic church building just south of Hagerstown’s Main Street in 1985, where it’s been happily humming along ever since.

Rhea’s daughter Suanna and her husband Gordon Goodnight continued to further refine and grow the company when they took the reins in the late 1980s. An Abbott’s Also outpost emerged in Indianapolis in 1993 through a licensing agreement with Jay and Lynn Noel, who would later go on to purchase the entire company. Together with their sons, Jason and Ryan, the Noels currently manage both the Hagerstown and Indianapolis locations.

To this day, Abbott’s Candies still produces its delectable inventory using W.C.’s original recipes and machinery for in-store purchases or shipping to a devoted base of customers all around the world. Product lines now include cream- and nut-filled chocolates, fudge, truffles, brittle and sugar-free offerings, but the signature soft caramels cooked in copper kettles remain the undisputed fan favorite with good reason.

Anyone is welcome to come see the chocolates and caramels being made Wednesday through Friday from 9AM to 11AM and 12PM to 2PM. 

Stop in and taste the wares for yourself. Abbott’s Hagerstown location is part of the Richmond/Wayne County Chocolate Trail — pick up a passport at the Old National Road Welcome Center to flash at 17 participating stops to enjoy free samples, discounts and surprises. How sweet it is! To learn more about Abbott’s Candies and other mouthwatering Wayne County destinations, go to visitrichmond.org.