Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop - Chillicothe, OH — Local services in Chillicothe

Step right up, sweet seekers and fizzy pop fanatics—Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop in Chillicothe is a technicolor dream dipped in nostalgia and sprinkled with joy. If Willy Wonka himself had retired to Ohio, this would be his golden-ticket hideaway.

With roots in Pennsylvania and a name that nods to Charlie Bucket’s legendary sidekick, Grandpa Joe’s has grown into a candy empire of delight, and the Chillicothe location is no exception. The selection is positively scrumdiddlyumptious. Wall-to-wall treats from every decade—whether you crave wax lips, Zotz, or the elusive candy cigarettes your dentist warned you about. Soda lovers, rejoice: there’s a rainbow of fizzy concoctions from brands you’ve never heard of but will never forget. And the memorabilia? It’s like a sugar-coated museum curated by a kid with a PhD in fun.

Service was sweeter than a chocolate river, and the location couldn’t be better—easy to find, hard to leave. Whether you're 7 or 70, this place will make your inner child do cartwheels. A perfect stop for travelers, locals, or anyone who believes life should taste like a jawbreaker and sparkle like Pop Rocks.

🍭 Tips for a Truly Scrumptious Visit:

Bring a basket—or a buddy! With so many tempting treats, it’s easy to fill your arms fast. A shopping basket helps, but a candy-loving companion doubles the fun.

Explore every nook: The shop is cleverly laid out with surprises tucked into corners and shelves. Don’t rush—some of the best finds are hiding in plain sight.

Try something new: From bacon-flavored soda to retro candies you haven’t seen since recess, this is the place to be adventurous.

Check for seasonal specials: Grandpa Joe’s often rotates themed goodies—Halloween, Christmas, even National Gummy Worm Day (probably). Ask the staff what’s fresh!

Snap a photo: The vibrant displays and nostalgic packaging make for great photo ops. It’s like stepping into a candy-colored time machine.

Mind the sugar rush: If you’re traveling with kids (or excitable cousins), pace the indulgence. The joy is in the journey—and the...

Grandpa Joe's is the candy shop that I wish had been on Water Street when I was a kid. I recently moved back to Chillicothe after living in Columbus for the past 30 years. When I was little, this location was Lloyd's candy shop. It carried mostly chocolates that were pretty high-end, and it honestly wasn't that fun of a place for a kid to get candy. Grandpa Joe's, however, is full of all kinds of candy that kids love and adults get nostalgic over. Razzles, Bazooka bubble gum, Abba Zabba and your standard Heshey's, M&Ms, and the like - it can all be found at Grandpa Joe's. They also carry novelty toys from Archee McPhee and Fred's. A great thing to know if you happen to need a mini plastic rubber chicken, or a tiny glow-in-the-dark plastic cat! If you like novelty soda pop, this place has an epic selection. I recommend grabbing one of their handy cardboard cartons and buying a variety of six bottles to sample. I received a $2 discount for buying six instead of five. Playing on the Willy Wonka theme, Grandpa Joe's also carries Willy Wonka branded board games and puzzles in addition to the Wonka brand candy. Check this place out the next time you're in downtown Chillicothe. I will...

I love this place I went there for the first time on May 5th, 2024, and I felt like a kid again. There's so much stuff I was in awe, I was there having some quality time with my mom and all I did was say "MOM LOOK AT THIS" "MOM LOOK AT THAT" (mind you I'm 23 ((going on 6 lol)). You can find all sorts of candy and miscellaneous stuff there, including candy and food from Japan and freeze dried candy and a giant gummy worm and a 5lb gummy bear, oven mitts with hilarious designs, coffee mugs with funny sayings, board games, toys, plushies, dog toys, socks with funny sayings, tin lunch boxes, refrigerator magnets, different flavored pop/sodas like; sour Warheads, the original SKI, pickle flavored, ketchup flavored, sour Toxic Waste, root beer, birch beer, stuff that you'd see on tv shows for example they have one from The Simpsons that says Duff on it and looks exactly like the can of Duff beer except it doesn't say beer on it, etc... And there's also a party room for birthday parties (I don't know if you have to reserve it...