Candy Kitchen

In the waning years of the Great Depression, young Sam Taustin opened a modest candy shop near Ocean City’s iconic boardwalk. The store was a hit with the town’s summer visitors. As demand grew, Sam – the youngest of nine – called on his sisters to help him expand.

Almost nine decades and four generations later, Candy Kitchen remains a family affair. First, it was Sam’s nephew, Richard Leiner, who took the helm. Then Sam’s great nephew, Bruce Leiner and his wife Cindy stepped in. Now their children, Jesse, Josh, the head candymaker, and daughter-in-law Jill, are helping carry the legacy forward.

All in the Family
Old-fashioned ways still rule. Small copper kettles. Only the best ingredients. These time-tested methods yield the best quality products, Bruce and Josh insist.

Point of Distinction
Fudge and taffy – boardwalk staples! Candy Kitchen’s are customer favorites, year after year. (The premium chocolate liquor, which stars in their fudge and chocolate taffy, helps explain why.)

A Taste of Tradition
There’s a nostalgia factor tied to Candy Kitchen. Families have been coming here for generations. A stop at one of our stores takes them back to their childhood – and that’s a feeling they want to pass on.

Why Peter’s^® Chocolate?
Candy Kitchen has trusted Peter’s Chocolate for more than 50 years. “Once we found it, we never looked back,” Bruce says.