Maine Is Home to One of the Oldest Candy Stores in America

The oldest continuously operating candy store in Maine has been open for almost as long as the oldest candy store in America!

Now, just so we're all on the same page—what exactly qualifies as a candy store? What makes a candy store, well... a candy store? Are they literal stores with candy?

With that in mind, where is the oldest—or ‘most seasoned,’ if ‘oldest’ sounds too harsh—candy store in America?

There’s some debate over what the oldest candy store in America really is. Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie in Salem, Massachusetts, claims to have started in 1806 as a business, while Shane Confectionery in Pennsylvania points to its physical candy store location, which dates back to 1863—so it may come down to whether you're talking about the business itself or the building it’s in.

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Alright, now that we’ve covered that, where can we find the oldest candy store right here in the Pine Tree State? And how long has it been open?

Orne’s Candy Store first opened its doors on July 4, 1885, in downtown Boothbay Harbor, thanks to Addie Orne, whose husband Thaddeus purchased the shop.

Stocked with ice cream, bananas, and candy on day one, Addie’s store grew over the years to offer quality chocolates and homemade fudge.

According to the Orne’s Candy Store website and the Boothbay Harbor Chamber of Commerce, generations of families continue to visit the shop, sharing sweet memories that date back to the days of penny candy. Located at 11 Commercial Street in Boothbay Harbor, it is believed to be the oldest candy store in Maine.

There you have it—Orne’s Candy Store in Boothbay Harbor has been a sweet staple in Maine since 1885.

Have you ever been to Maine’s oldest candy store? Where’s your favorite place to grab a sweet treat? We’d love to hear from you! Feel free to join the conversation by messaging us on the app.

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