Shane Confectionery is a Time Portal to Philadelphia's Sugary Past

The storefront at 110 Market Street is actually a time machine. Don't believe it? See it for yourself. Step inside, and you'll be transported back to 1863, a time when the city was keen on sugar — at one point, even controlling 90% of the nation's sugar industry due to some prime port real estate in the sugar trade. At the turn of the 20th century, the city was brimming with chocolatiers and candy manufacturers; High Street — now Market Street — was chock-full of them, and Shane Confectionery was one among them. After 153 years, it's now considered the oldest, continually-run candy shop in the country, and you better believe that it's treated as such.

Brothers Ryan and Eric Berley brought the shop back to life in 2011, and over the past five years, it's turned into somewhat of a secret Wonka factory full of truffles, bonbons, gummies, clear toy candies, barks, and fudge. The ever-so-friendly and remarkably knowledgeable staff led by Christine Salvadore will be happy to answers all of your candy-questions, and you'll probably have many — there's a lot of ground to cover in a century-and-a-half. Make sure, especially during the colder months, you indulge in the Shane's city-best hot chocolate, expertly crafted in the backroom, speakeasy-like hot chocolate cafe. [Photos by Hillary Petrozziello]