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Nichols Candies
Rating Details »
- Hours:
Mon-Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
9 reviews for Nichols Candies
Nichols has been in business all of my life, my parents' lives, and most of my grandparents' lives. With all those years of experience, you know they know what they're doing.
Nichols hand-makes every variety of chocolate confection you can imagine, plus plenty of non-chocolate offerings for those crazy people who aren't chocolate fans.
Every variety is laid before you on tables and shelves and pedestals. With assistance from one of the friendly chocolate mavens who work there, you can make your way through the maze of goodies picking and choosing what you want in your custom quarter-, half-, one-, or two-pound box.
There's also a very good sugar-free section for anyone watching their waists or blood sugar.
It really is the place to shop for Valentine's day. They have a good variety of fancy, heart-shaped boxes in various sizes and levels of frilly-ness.
A word of warning, however. Nichol's gets very busy around the holidays. You may have to wait a good 10 minutes before a storekeeper is available to help you with your custom mixes. When it's packed, there's usually a place to take a number to be sure that everyone is served in the order they arrived.
Ay, ok, I'm not rating this based on "everything about a candy store" because I can walk into most decent candy stores and be perfectly happy getting some chocolate, cashew turtle type thing. I mean, I'm just not that discerning when it comes to candy stores.
HOWEVER, the reason I really enjoy Nichols is because of the Walnut Whip. As another reviewer remarked, the store is a bit pricey but I still plunk down the $18 for a pound of it. The problem is that, unlike whenever I've gotten fudge, the Walnut Whip doesn't stand a chance if I open it around other people. I can open fudge or anything else around people and they can get their chocolate/sugar fix within a piece or two, but Walnut Whip is so fluffy and lite (appropriate referred to as a "Meltaway"), that after I've already shared 1-2 pieces with people, they're still coming back for a 3rd and 4th.
It's so good it doesn't last!
Now, I don't know if Marzipan is really that much different from store to store but I really dig it at Nichols. They also have a lot of other stuff, too, so there's never a dull moment. I just think you should check the website for the prices first.... $18 for a pound of walnut whip... that's more than it costs for an ounce of SILVER!
I haven't been to a candy shop since I was a child on Martha's Vineyard. We took a trip to Gloucester and had to go back!
To my amazement every candy is hand made, even the sour patch kids! I was like of course they just package store or factory sour patch kids, but nope they use real ingredients.
Everything looked so delicious ! I was tempted by the chocolate covered cherries. 100% impressed and excited this is so close to my home.
The reason I'm giving 4 stars is because it is a bit pricey, but I understand it is because of the hand made factor. Overall great place!!!
i always, ALWAYS crave their milk chocolate. i wish i could explain how goddamn good it tastes. they have so many options in here, most if which i love (my downfall being any chocolate/fruit combination. i like chocolate-covered fruit but not fake fruit and chocolate). no matter what, the plain old milk chocolate is supreme and makes me want to die. little chocolate santas at christmas, little eggs or a big fat solid chocolate bunny at easter, chocolate lollipops whenever. wtf. why is it so GOOD?!
There are a few things I took for granted while I was growing up in Gloucester and not (thanks Mom) being exposed to much else.
That's Nichols Candies -- a teeny, tiny multi-generation family chocolatier located on the marsh along Route 128 -- is among the finest purveyors of fine candies anywhere is such a thing.
It's all rave, friends. The staff is incredibly friendly, patient and knowledgeable. They genuinely enjoy, I've always sensed, what they do.
Each morsel is more delicious than the next. Until you get to the Walnut Whip, whereupon it doesn't get any better. I can honestly say that Belgium ain't got nothin' on Nichols.
If there's any knock, it's that parking is limited and the quaint shop can get awfully crowded, especially when candy-centric holidays (Valentine's, Easter, etc.) approach.
I almost ran my car off the highway yesterday afternoon when the words "CANDY HOUSE" were visible from a nearby exit.
I popped in to this candy haven and was thrilled! The shop is filled with tabled stocked with every chocolate goodie you can imagine-even solid elephants(?)!
The entire atmosphere feels like you've taken a step back in time-they've been peddling these treats for 74 years! Also check out their stellar sugar free section-good for grannies!
This place cannot be missed-literally, is RIGHT off the highway! Scoot in and grab some serious easter garb too-they are fully stocked!
Delicious, delicious locally made candies and chocolate. I've had Nichol's candies throughout my life but had only actually visited the store recently, and it was really cool. You go around with one of the clerks to all the different candy tables, point to the items you want and tell them how many and they arrange them in a box for you right there.
I can't even imagine how busy it gets during Valentine's Day, Christmas, and Easter. And it's right off the highway as you're coming into Gloucester, so it's almost a little too easy to make a stop.
All kinds of traditional homemade candies with a factory right there where you can watch them being made. They're expensive, but completely worth the price.
I grew up on Nichols Chocolate and was taught that it was the best chocolate on earth. I have traveled around the US and parts of Europe and I still think that nothing compares to Nichols. When I walk through the door, the smell makes me feel like I'm eight years old again. You trail the lady will the pale blue box and say "one of these, two of those". I recommend the cool man, broadway, and figaro.
Nichols has been hand making candy and chocolates in Gloucester for years (probably at least 50). You can see the candy being made through the big plate glass window. At major candy holidays - Christmas, Thanksgiving, Valentines Day, Mother's Day and Easter...you better get there early. There is always a line. And for Valentine's Day they have massive satin hearts that you can hand pick what goes in. My favorites are the turtles, the carmels and the genevas.
