PA Roadside Attractions

Exploring Sarris Candies in Washington County

Collage of four images from Sarris Candies’ Chocolate Factory and Ice Cream Parlour in Canonsburg, PA, featuring the glass candy counter with assorted chocolates, the elaborate chocolate castle display, shelves with giant chocolate bars and teddy bears, and the outdoor seating area under bright red awnings.

Visiting the Sarris Candies’ Chocolate Factory Store and Ice Cream Parlour in Canonsburg is a must for anyone with a sweet tooth and a sense of nostalgia.

This family-run business has been a staple in Washington County for decades, delighting visitors with its irresistible chocolates, old-fashioned ice cream parlour, and whimsical décor.

Interior of Sarris Candies’ Chocolate Factory and Ice Cream Parlour in Canonsburg, PA, featuring a large ice cream sundae sculpture, shelves filled with boxed chocolates and plush toys, and a colorful mural of chocolate bunnies and Easter-themed decorations along the upper wall.

Covering an entire city block, the Sarris factory store has grown from humble beginnings into a beloved landmark known across the region.

Exterior view of Sarris Candies’ Chocolate Factory and Ice Cream Parlour in Canonsburg, PA, featuring the red and brick building with outdoor seating, bold red signage on the roof, and bright red awnings along the sidewalk under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Directions & Hours

The Sarris Candies’ Chocolate Factory Store and Ice Cream Parlour is located at 511 Adams Avenue, Canonsburg, PA 15317.

Hours of operation are: Monday – Saturday 9:00 am – 9:00 pm | Sunday 10:00 am – 9:00 pm.

Checkout counter at Sarris Candies’ Chocolate Factory and Ice Cream Parlour in Canonsburg, PA, featuring ornate stained-glass panels, crystal chandeliers, shelves of chocolates and souvenirs, and plush animal decorations above the registers.

What You’ll See at Sarris Candies

As you step inside, you’re greeted by rows of glass candy cases filled with every kind of chocolate imaginable, from hand-dipped favorites to giant milk chocolate bars that make perfect souvenirs.

Interior view of Sarris Candies’ Chocolate Factory and Ice Cream Parlour in Canonsburg, PA, showcasing long glass display cases filled with assorted chocolates, shelves stocked with peanut butter meltaways, colorful hanging light fixtures, and a cheerful, candy-themed decor.

The legendary Chocolate Castle, an elaborate 12-foot-tall creation weighing 2,600 pounds, immediately catches the eye with its candy-coated turrets, carousel, and playful figures.

Elaborate chocolate castle display at Sarris Candies’ Chocolate Factory and Ice Cream Parlour in Canonsburg, PA, featuring candy-coated towers, whimsical figures, a colorful carousel, and a mural backdrop in a vibrant candy-themed setting.

Brightly lit displays showcase shelves upon shelves of chocolate-covered pretzels, seasonal candies, and gift baskets wrapped with colorful ribbons.

Display shelves at Sarris Candies’ Chocolate Factory and Ice Cream Parlour in Canonsburg, PA, filled with assorted chocolates, gift baskets, candy tubs, and colorful wrapped sweets beneath a decorative red chandelier.

Overhead, stained-glass artwork and vintage décor add a nostalgic charm, including retro pedal cars and bicycles perched above the candy displays.

Wall of candy dispensers at Sarris Candies’ Chocolate Factory and Ice Cream Parlour in Canonsburg, PA, featuring rows of colorful Jelly Belly bins, plush toys, retro pedal cars, vintage bicycles, and Sarris-branded apparel on display.

The old-fashioned ice cream parlour, with its shiny red booths and stained-glass lamps, serves up homemade sundaes and other sweet treats that draw crowds all year long.

Ice cream parlour inside Sarris Candies’ Chocolate Factory in Canonsburg, PA, featuring retro red booths, colorful stained-glass lamps, a long ordering counter, and bright pink lighting creating a vintage diner atmosphere.

Visitors can also find Sarris-themed merchandise, from T-shirts to mugs, alongside bins of Jelly Belly candy and rows of plush toys waiting to go home with smiling children.

Merchandise section at Sarris Candies’ Chocolate Factory and Ice Cream Parlour in Canonsburg, PA, featuring colorful Jelly Belly candy dispensers, plush toys, Sarris-branded T-shirts and mugs, and vintage pedal cars and bicycles displayed above the shelves.

The store’s walls tell the story of Frank and Athena Sarris, whose love and dedication built this chocolate empire from a basement dream into a Canonsburg landmark.

Customer browsing a glass display case filled with assorted chocolates at Sarris Candies’ Chocolate Factory and Ice Cream Parlour in Canonsburg, PA, with gift baskets on the counter, colorful hanging lights above, and a portrait of founder Frank Sarris on the wall.

Photos of the family, along with nods to the company’s history, remind visitors that Sarris Candies remains family-run to this day.

Wall display at Sarris Candies’ Chocolate Factory and Ice Cream Parlour in Canonsburg, PA, featuring portraits of founder Frank Sarris, his family, and numerous framed photos highlighting the company’s history and community involvement.

Even the outdoor seating area, shaded by bright red awnings, invites guests to relax and enjoy their treats right on site.

Outdoor seating area at Sarris Candies’ Chocolate Factory and Ice Cream Parlour in Canonsburg, PA, featuring round picnic tables under bright red awnings along the brick building with the shop’s name displayed on the wall.

Everywhere you look, the factory store radiates the warmth of tradition and the joy of something made with love.

Colorful corner display at Sarris Candies’ Chocolate Factory and Ice Cream Parlour in Canonsburg, PA, featuring a whimsical mural of the Sarris Candy Express train, oversized candy and ice cream decorations, bright floral accents, and a lit-up candy-themed tree surrounded by greeting card racks.

Final Thoughts

A visit to Sarris Candies’ Chocolate Factory Store and Ice Cream Parlour is as much about the experience as it is about the sweets.

Exterior view of Sarris Candies’ Chocolate Factory in Canonsburg, PA, with large red lettering on the building, parked trucks and cars in front, and a bright blue sky with scattered clouds overhead.

It’s a place where family history, local pride, and world-class chocolate come together to create memories as rich as the candy itself.

Display shelves at Sarris Candies’ Chocolate Factory and Ice Cream Parlour in Canonsburg, PA, featuring large milk chocolate bars, boxes of chocolate-covered pretzels, plush teddy bears, stuffed dragons, and a colorful decorative horse head.

For more information, please check out Sarris Candies OFFICIAL WEBSITE.

Gift shop area inside Sarris Candies’ Chocolate Factory and Ice Cream Parlour in Canonsburg, PA, featuring shelves of candy gift baskets, plush toys, jelly bean dispensers, and colorful stained-glass artwork on the walls.

The Gardners Candy Museum in Blair County offers visitors a sweet journey through confectionery history.

A collage of four photos showcasing the Gardner’s Candy Museum in Tyrone, Pennsylvania. The top left image features the exterior of the historic candy store and museum, with a bright red awning, festive window displays, and a classic street view. The top right image captures the museum’s interior, highlighting vintage candy-making equipment, antique display cases, and historical memorabilia related to Gardners Candies' long history. The bottom left image showcases a store shelf filled with Gardners Candies’ chocolates, including Valentine’s Day treats, peanut butter meltaways, and decorative tins. The bottom right image displays a collection of vintage candy molds, including bunny and basket-shaped designs, which were historically used for crafting chocolate confections.

Established in 1897 by James “Pike” Gardner (and owned by Sarris Candies since 1997), Gardners Candies has been a beloved name in the candy industry for over a century.

A nostalgic candy counter inside Gardner's Candy Museum in Tyrone, Pennsylvania, features a red and white vintage-style display filled with classic sweets. A wooden sign reading "Gardner’s 1897" hangs above the counter, celebrating the company's long history. The glass display case is stocked with colorful candy jars, individually wrapped treats, and retro confections. Stained-glass pendant lights add an old-fashioned charm to the space, while shelves in the background showcase decorative dolls and vintage-inspired merchandise. The setup evokes the atmosphere of an old-fashioned candy shop, where visitors can experience the history and legacy of Gardners Candies, famous for its Original Peanut Butter Meltaway.

Today, visitors can explore the flagship candy store, an impressive candy museum, and a nostalgic ice cream parlour all under one roof.

A retro-style ice cream parlor inside Gardner's Candy Museum in Tyrone, Pennsylvania, features a red and white checkerboard floor, red upholstered booths with decorative glass dividers, and matching red chairs around speckled granite tables with ornate gold-colored legs. The bright and inviting space evokes a nostalgic soda fountain atmosphere, where visitors can enjoy ice cream, sundaes, and other sweet treats. The walls are adorned with framed photos and memorabilia, while the entrance, visible in the background, has red double doors decorated with heart-shaped accents, reinforcing the classic charm of this historic Pennsylvania candy company, founded in 1897.

Gene and Boots Candies is a third generation family business and a western PA tradition!

The factory where Gene and Boots chocolates are made. — The factory where Gene and Boots chocolates are made in Perryopolis.

Gene and Boots specializes in homemade chocolates, and also offers 20 different varieties of their own homemade hard ice-cream.

Inside the Gene and Boots Perryopolis location.

Discover more than 1000 exceptional destinations worth exploring all across Pennsylvania with the interactive PA Bucket List Travel Map!

Did you enjoy this article?

If so, be sure to like and follow PA Bucket List on Facebook, Instagram, and/or Pinterest to learn more about the best things to see and do in Pennsylvania!

Click on any of the icons below to get connected to PA Bucket List on social media.