Step aside, Willy Wonka. We're looking at the history of candy and chocolate companies in Nashville + some local confections worth snacking on this season.

Leon's Candy, 138 2nd Ave. N.
The late Leon Vlahos opened his candy shop in 1994 using family recipes dating back to the 1800s. Although Leon did not always work in the candy industry, he did learn the trade growing up around his father's Birmingham-based company, Mary Ball Candy, where he started cooking with secret recipes at age 10. The Nashville shop specializes in eight varieties of pralines and other handmade confections made daily.

Goo Goo Chocolate Co., 116 3rd Ave. S.
As the legend goes, the country’s first known combination candy bar was invented at Nashville’s Standard Candy Company in 1912. The company, better known for its Goo Goo Clusters, created the famous local treat by combining caramel, marshmallow nougat, and roasted peanuts in a milk chocolate coating. It’s long been a myth that the word “goo” is a nod to the Grand Ole Opry, but the name was actually inspired by a baby’s first words — hence the company’s original slogan, “Goo Goo! It’s so good, people will ask for it from birth.”

Colts Chocolates, 3611 Gallatin Pk.
Colts Bolt (noun): An award-winning chocolatey treat made with milk and dark chocolate, peanut butter, and whole-roasted almonds. Although Colts Chocolate is known for a variety of confections, this innovation is the company’s best-selling product. Nashvillian Mackenzie Colt founded the business in 1984.

Bang Candy Company, 1300 Clinton St.
The Marathon Village store stocks a variety of chocolate barks, hard candies, and marshmallow-based items.

Break us off a piece of Olive & Sinclair. | Photo via @oliveandsinclair

Olive & Sinclair Chocolate Co., 1628 Fatherland St.
Founded in 2007, chances are you’ve seen Olive & Sinclair's chocolate bars around town (or even internationally). The bars are made with organic cacao + pure cane brown sugar in varieties such as cinnamon chili, sea salt, and buttermilk white chocolate. Fun fact: The factory building was once home to an H.G. Hill grocery store.

Poppy & Peep, 374 Herron Dr.
Inspired by their shared love of vintage candy shops, father and daughter duo Mark and Evane Stoner opened Poppy & Peep in early 2020. The small business specializes in bon bons, chocolate bars, and other confections as well as gluten-free, nut-free, and vegan treats. Check out this extensive guide of bon bon flavors.

Tempered Fine Chocolates, 1201 5th Ave. N.
This small-batch chocolate shop in Germantown draws inspiration from French and Swiss chocolate-making techniques. The store offers packaged bars, truffles, and gift sets as well as a cafe menu with hot chocolate, espresso, and wine and whiskey pairings.