 The Olympia Candy Kitchen opened its doors on South Main Street in Chambersburg, PA in 1903. In the early years the Olympia was combination soda fountain and candy store, a popular downtown dining spot where business folks met for lunch and where the after-school crowd converged. Families came too, to enjoy the Olympia's fine ice cream creations and take home some fine hand-dipped chocolates.
 In 1919, after apprenticing under a master candy maker and longing to go into business for himself George Pananes, and his brother James, purchased the Olympia Candy Kitchen from founder J.K. Proferes and carried on the tradition of the finest confections and the freshest homemade soups and sandwiches in the area. This commitment and passion carried them through the hard times of the Great Depression and World War II. During this time though, elder brother James saw it fit to retire to a simpler life, so George and his wife Irene gladly ran the business while raising a family of three children - daughters Martha, Billie and son Will.
In 1947, the Olympia became a "candy only" operation, still specializing in the finest quality chocolates and gift assortments while practicing a true family business where all three children grew-up and worked in the store on a daily basis. In 1971, Will purchased the business from his father and quickly ushered Olympia into a newer more modern era of advanced equipment and expanded production. In 1978, Will opened an old-fashioned ice cream parlor in the warehouse at the rear of the Olympia Candy Kitchen. Also rich in the atmosphere of the late Victorian period, the Olympia Ice Cream Parlor still offered yesteryear goodness: fabulous sundaes, thick malts and shakes, and nostalgic sodas all made with Olympia's very own ice creams. Today the Olympia has expanded and returned to a turn-of-the-century look with hand carved display bars, hanging brass gas lights and Tiffany lamps, and the largest selection of the best chocolates & candy you've ever enjoyed. You'll also find many lovely Victorian and traditional American gifts, tin ware, porcelain collectibles, nostalgic framed paintings and cute, cuddly stuffed animals too.
 Every old-fashioned candy store that ever was, still is, at the Olympia Candy Kitchen. Candy-making has been an art here for one hundred and seven years. And running... |
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